Nassau County legislators are hoping to better protect youth athletes with Robbie’s Law — legislation that would make it mandatory for all county fields to be equipped with an automated external defibrillator to help victims of sudden cardiac arrest.
Legislator Seth Koslow, the Democratic candidate for county executive challenging incumbent Republican Bruce Blakeman, introduced the initiative for the portable electronic AED at Eisenhower Park’s ball fields on July 7. There is currently no requirement for county fields to have an AED, although park offices, such as the one in Eisenhower Park, are normally equipped with one.
The legislation is named in honor of Robbie Levine, a 9-year-old Merrick boy who died from sudden cardiac arrest in 2005 while playing baseball. His parents, Jill and Craig Levine, founded Forever 9–The Robbie Levine Foundation, a nonprofit that provides AEDs and CPR training to youth athletic organizations and other community groups.
“Not only am I a legislator, but I’m also a dad and a Little League coach,” Koslow said at the news conference. “I’ve spent countless hours on fields, watching kids play — and just the thought of that one moment where a kid falls and they need help because they’re suffering a cardiac emergency, and the fact that there’s a chance they won’t get the help they need because there’s no defibrillator nearby, could mean a tragedy.”
Also attending the news conference were members of the legislature’s minority caucus and Jill Levine to advocate for the legislation, emphasizing that equipping county fields with AEDs could enhance safety for everyone — especially young athletes.
Over the foundation’s 20-year history, Levine said her organization has donated AEDs to every state in the country. Now they’re designed so that even a young child can administer care as the machine speaks to users and walks them through the steps needed to save a life.
“Robbie didn’t get a second chance,” she said. “This bill makes sure another child will.”
For Long Beach residents, this discussion most likely has them remembering, Lazar LaPenna, 10, who after getting a base hit in a 2022 Little League game collapsed from what is believed to seizure from the epilepsy he endured and also died.
Most portable devices cost around $500, Koslow said, and Nassau County maintains roughly 200 fields, bringing the total cost of the initiative to around $100,000 — a small dent in the county’s $4.2 billion budget.
Other municipalities on Long Island, like Suffolk County, have AED legislation in place, Koslow explained, and a state law requires athletic leagues with five or more teams to have an emergency plan to respond to victims of cardiac arrest.
During the news conference, an adult softball game was taking place on one of the fields — and Koslow said there’s no way to know if they’re associated with a league, or if its participants are members of the public.
“These parks are open to the public,” he said. “If you don’t have a five-team league, you have no requirement to have an AED here.”
During a cardiac emergency, accessing an AED in a Nassau County park’s office could be difficult — and the time it takes to call for help could mean the difference between life and death, he stressed. Robbie’s Law aims to eliminate that uncertainty, ensuring that no parent, athlete or member of the public has to worry about getting hold of the lifesaving device.
More than 350,000 people suffer sudden cardiac arrest outside of hospitals every year in the United States, and survival rates plummet if defibrillation isn’t administered within the first few minutes, according to the minority caucus.
Legislator Olena Nicks, a member of the Uniondale Fire Department, emphasized the importance of having an AED in public locations.
“As a volunteer firefighter and first responder, I’ve seen firsthand the life-or-death difference a few seconds can make,” Nicks said. “When someone’s heart stops, every moment counts. An AED on site can mean the difference between a tragedy and a second chance.”
The legislation, she said, is “proactive government,” which is what Nassau County residents want and deserve.
Robbie’s Law has been formally introduced in the Nassau County Legislature, and the Republican majority now has to bring it to vote, Koslow said. The legislature’s next meeting is slated for July 28 at 1 p.m. at the county’s headquarters in Mineola.
For more on the Robbie Levine Foundation and its work, as well as the importance of AEDs, visit RobbieLevineFoundation.org.
https://liherald.com/rockvillecentre/stories/aeds-for-county-fields,216352
