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RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE AND THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PASS LEGISLATION AND PROMULGATE REGULATIONS, RESPECTIVELY, REQUIRING THAT CAFETERIA WORKERS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS BE CERTIFIED IN LIFE SAFETY TECHNIQUES, SUCH AS CARDIAC PULMONARY RESUSCITATION AND THE HEIMLICH MANEUVER; AND FURTHER URGING MIAMI-DADE COUNTY SCHOOLS TO HAVE AVAILABLE AT LEAST ONE EMPLOYEE PER SHIFT WORKING IN SCHOOL CAFETERIAS WHO IS TRAINED IN SUCH LIFE SAFETY TECHNIQUES

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WHEREAS, choking is responsible for numerous emergency medical situations each year across the country; and
WHEREAS, the failure to receive immediate and proper first aid for a choking incident can result in death; and
WHEREAS, it is reported that one of the top causes of deaths among children is choking; and
WHEREAS, the ability to recognize the signs of a person who is choking and swiftly provide first aid is of vital importance; and
WHEREAS, section 509.213 of the Florida Statutes requires that every public food service establishment post signage illustrating and describing the Heimlich Maneuver procedure for rendering emergency first aid to a choking victim; and
WHEREAS, section 509.213 also requires that such signage be placed in a conspicuous place in each public food establishment that is accessible to employees, and that the establishment familiarize its employees with the method of rendering such first aid; and
WHEREAS, although the aforementioned laws are helpful, the Florida Legislature should pass legislation further requiring that cafeteria workers in public elementary, middle and high schools throughout the state be trained in certain life safety techniques, including, but not limited to, the Heimlich Maneuver and cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (�Life Safety Techniques�); and
WHEREAS, the Miami-Dade County School Board requires that each school have at least two individuals who are certified emergency care providers and that such individuals� names be posted in several areas throughout the school; and
WHEREAS, it also would be beneficial if at least one employee per shift at each Miami-Dade County public elementary, middle and high school cafeteria are trained in Life Safety Techniques; and
WHEREAS, fire rescue departments, local public hospitals and the Red Cross may be sources of free or affordable courses in life safety techniques; and
WHEREAS, it would not be the intent of such Life Safety Technique training to impose upon any school or employee thereof a legal duty to render emergency assistance, or for any such school or employee to be held liable for any civil damages as the result of such act or omission when the school or employee acts as an ordinary reasonably prudent person would have acted under the same or similar circumstances,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the Florida Legislature and the Florida Department of Education to pass legislation and promulgate regulations respectively requiring that cafeteria workers in public elementary, middle and high schools throughout the state be trained in certain Life Safety Techniques such that at least one trained employee is available during all shifts in the event there is a choking incident at a school cafeteria.
Section 2. Urges Miami-Dade County School Board to require that at least one cafeteria worker per shift at each public elementary, middle and high school in Miami-Dade County obtain some training in the aforementioned Life Safety Techniques and be available in the event there is a choking incident at a school cafeteria.
Section 3. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, the Chair and Members of the Miami-Dade County State Delegation, the Florida Commissioner of Education, the Chair and Members of the Miami-Dade County School Board and the Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
Section 4. Directs the County�s state lobbyists to advocate for the passage of legislation and the promulgation of rules as set forth in Sections 1 and 2 above, and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item in the 2011 State Legislative Package.