Edoardo Bove's first aid bill stalled by funding issues

The 'Bove Law', a legislative proposal aimed at introducing mandatory first aid training in all Italian schools and universities, is currently stalled due to a lack of funding. The bill, named after Watford footballer Edoardo Bove, seeks to promote life-saving skills such as CPR and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), while also offering tax incentives for AED purchases.

Although the bill received cross-party support—uniting proposals from the Lega, Azione, Forza Italia, and the Democratic Party—it is stuck in the Senate Education Commission. Progress is halted because the Budget Commission cannot vote on amendments without official economic coverage approval from the government. The Ministry of Economy and Finance has yet to allocate the required approximately 5 million euros.

Edoardo Bove, who survived a cardiac arrest during a match in December 2024, has expressed frustration over the institutional deadlock. He emphasized the critical importance of immediate intervention, noting that delays of even 20 to 60 seconds can lead to permanent brain damage.