The goal of health education is to provide Kentucky students with the knowledge and skills needed to adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2017), “research shows a strong connection between healthy behaviors and academic achievement (e.g., grades, standardized tests, graduation rates, attendance).” Skill development, in conjunction with opportunities for creating and reinforcing healthy behaviors, focuses on personal decision-making, goal setting, self-management, interpersonal communication, accessing information, analyzing influences and advocacy. When these skills are combined with foundational health-related information, students are equipped to navigate today’s complex society and lead healthy lifestyles.

HS.5.3. Determine when to access professional safety and injury prevention information, services and/or products.

(2) Every public high school shall provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation training to students as part of the health course or the physical education course that is required for high school graduation or the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps course that meets the physical education requirement. The training shall:

• (a) Be based on the American Heart Association’s Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care or other nationally recognized, evidenced-based guidelines;
• (b) Incorporate psychomotor skills training to support cognitive learning; and
• (c) Make students aware of the purpose of an automated external defibrillator and its ease and safety of use.