New Jersey Teachers Would be Required to Have Seizure-Safety Training Under New Law

New Jersey Teachers Would be Required to Have Seizure-Safety Training Under New Law

The new law would require school staff to undergo seizure-safety training. It would also require school nurses to come up with personal emergency plans for students with seizure disorders.

  • By Sherelle Black
  • September 16, 2019

It is common practice for most teachers to know how to perform CPR and have a basic understanding of first aid.

But what if a child starts having a seizure, would they know how to react?

A New Jersey mom and her son Paul, who has epilepsy, do not want to take the chance of his teacher or other teachers not knowing what to do.

"We're trying to make teachers know what to do when seizures happen," Paul told the Courier-Post in August. "So for example, say if I was having a seizure in class and a teacher was right next to me, she would know what to do ... I can't move and I can't talk when a seizure is happening."

On Thursday, State Sen. Jim Beach (D-Camden/Burlington) introduced “Paul’s Law,” which would require school staff to have seizure training.

Additionally, the law would have school nurses develop individualized health care and emergency plans for a student with a seizure disorder. This would be done with input from the child’s parents.

Besides teachers, bus drivers would also be trained how to provide care for those seizures.

A nonprofit group, such as the Epilepsy Foundation of America, would provide a free online course to satisfy the training mandate, reported the Courier-Post.

With 12,000 children living in New Jersey with epilepsy, according to the Epilepsy Foundation, Beach said he sees the need for the bill.

"All school personnel should know what to do when a student has a seizure, either in the classroom or at an after school event,” Beach stated in a release. “With the help of Paul St. Pierre, this legislation will go a long way in educating our teachers and other school personnel on how to handle a situation when one of their students has a seizure.”

About the Author

Sherelle Black is a Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • How a Rural School District Enhanced Safety, Reduced Vaping, and Improved Efficiency by Modernizing Security

    As educational leaders, our primary mission is creating safe, productive learning environments where our students can thrive. Today, that unfortunately means addressing ever-evolving challenges that range from security threats to the growing epidemic of student vaping, all while managing tight budgets and (for many of us) geographically dispersed facilities. Read Now

  • Turning Surveillance Into Strategy: AI’s Role in Driving Proactive Security

    Video surveillance has long been part of the campus safety toolkit, indispensable for investigating security incidents after they occur and a valuable tool for proactive deterrent. Read Now

  • A.C. Camargo Cancer Center Enhances Security, Patient Care with Help from Advanced Video Surveillance

    A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, a leading oncology treatment center in São Paulo, Brazil recognized for its history of innovation, today announced that its partnership with Axis Communications has produced savings of more than $2 million over its first two years, all of which will be reinvested in patient care. A.C. Camargo has deployed more than 2,000 state-of-the-art video surveillance cameras throughout the Center’s corridors, complex care units, and parking lots, embracing a more holistic approach to security that emphasizes patient and employee safety along with improved quality of service. Read Now

  • 2025 Secure Campus Award Winners Announced

    Campus Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 Secure Campus Award winners. Twenty companies are being recognized this year for products that help keep education and business campuses safe. Read Now

Most   Popular