New Law Requires Missouri High School Students to Learn CPR

Gov. Jay Nixon has signed a bill that will require Missouri high school students to undergo a new round of first aid training before they can graduate.

The St. Louis Dispatch reports that the governor signed the legislation Tuesday. The measure will go into effect in the 2017-2018 school year.

Under the new law, students would have to take 30 minutes of CPR instruction, as well as training in the Heimlich maneuver, which is used when a person is choking.

Nixon said in a statement that it's imperative that young people be familiar with these procedures because first aid can sometimes be the difference between life and death.