Is Your School Ready for a Cardiac Emergency?

As students, coaches, and athletes return to school and sports activities, now is a great time to think about safety where those activities are happening.

While games, practices, and school events bring communities together, they can also be the setting for one of the most time-sensitive medical emergencies: sudden cardiac arrest. Cardiac emergencies can affect student-athletes, coaches, officials, spectators, or other visitors, and every second counts when a life is on the line.

That’s why the American Heart Association is building support for legislation that would help ensure schools have Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs) for school and school-sponsored athletic events.

A CERP helps schools respond quickly and effectively to a cardiac emergency by providing:

• A designated emergency response team
• Accessible AEDs and trained personnel
• Clear emergency action protocols
• Regular practice drills
• Coordination with local EMS

As we prepare for future advocacy efforts, we encourage you to ask a simple question.

Does your local school have a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan in place in the event a sudden cardiac emergency occurs at school or during a sports event?

We ask you to start this conversation in your community to ensure that athletes, coaches, families, and fans are protected when seconds matter most. And we ask for your help in this important policy effort by reaching out to your youth coaches, school administrators, and your elected officials to encourage their support as we move into the Idaho state legislative session and bring this legislation forward in January 2027.