Back-to-School Safety Alert: Is Your School Ready for a Cardiac Emergency?

Every year, 23,000 children will experience cardiac arrest outside of the hospital, and about 40% of those cardiac arrests are sports related.

Whether in the classroom or on the playing field, having a plan in place to ensure that staff and students can respond quickly and effectively in the case of a sudden cardiac arrest can save lives.

A Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) is a written document that establishes specific steps to reduce death from cardiac arrest in school settings. The safety of students, school staff, and visitors can be enhanced when school CERP teams are trained and empowered to administer lifesaving care until emergency medical services arrive.

In Ohio, a student named Canen Dickman is alive today because his coaches knew what to do when he went into cardiac arrest during soccer practice. “I’m lucky that I go to a school where an AED was available and that my coaches knew what to do when I collapsed. I want every kid to have that opportunity if they go into cardiac arrest,” Canen remarked.

CERPs can more than double survival rates from cardiac arrest by empowering bystanders to take action by dialing 9-1-1, starting hands-only CPR, and using an AED. When bystanders become lifesavers, schools and children are safer.

We continue to advocate for comprehensive policies that require CERPs in schools in every state in the U.S. and appropriate funds to help pay for AEDs, CRP, and AED training.

Curious where CERPs stand in your state?

In the Midwest region’s 13 states, Minnesota, Indiana, Missouri, and Kentucky have passed policies that require CERPs in schools and include funding for implementation. This was a huge step in protecting the safety of students, staff, and visitors at schools across those states. North Dakota, Illinois, Kansas, and Michigan have passed a CERPs policy and will focus on securing funding to ensure all schools can place the recommended number of AEDs and train their staff effectively.

In Indiana and Kentucky, the legislature has also passed laws and allocated funding for CERPs in athletics, which include athletic facilities and events outside of the school. Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio are working on funding CERPs in athletics in their states.

Advocates in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin are continuing to fight for this lifesaving legislation.

In schools with AEDs, 70% of children survive cardiac arrest. That’s 7x the overall survival rate for children. CERPs allow schools to prepare for sudden cardiac arrest, ensuring that staff are confident in using AEDs when there is a community member in need.

By championing and enacting CERPs into law, we are protecting children and saving lives in schools nationwide—this is urgent, life-saving work