Michigan Recognizes 40 Schools Prepared for Cardiac Emergencies

Between 1999 and 2009 in Michigan, there were 3,134 young individuals between 1 and 39 years of age who died of sudden cardiac death. Of those, 246 were between 5 and 19 years of age. Governor Rick Snyder, MDCH, MDE, MAP-SCDY, AHA, and many community partners are committed to reducing the number of sudden cardiac death in our youth. The recognition of the first MI HEARTSafe Schools is another forward step in the effort to do so.

Public Act 12 of 2014 requires all schools (grades kindergarten to 12) to have a cardiac emergency response plan in place by July 1, 2014. Michigan schools that already have an existing cardiac emergency response plan and have taken additional steps to be prepared for a cardiac emergency applied for the new MI HEARTSafe Schools designation beginning in November 2013. This designation recognizes those first 40 schools that have taken steps above and beyond to prepare to respond in the event of a cardiac emergency, and is awarded for a period of three years.

The 40 schools being awarded the three year MI HEARTSafe School designation are (alphabetical by city):

• Van Buren ISD Behavioral Education Center in Bangor, Mich.
• Cass City Elementary in Cass City, Mich.
• Cass City Junior/Senior High School in Cass City, Mich.
• Cedar Springs High School in Cedar Springs, Mich.
• Lutz School in Clinton Township, Mich.
• Waldron Learning Center in Coldwater, Mich.
• Dowagiac Union High School in Dowagiac, Mich.
• Fennville Elementary School in Fennville, Mich.
• Fennville Middle School in Fennville
• Fennville High School in Fennville, Mich.
• Innovation Central High School in Grand Rapids, Mich.
• Kent Career Technical Center in Grand Rapids, Mich.
• Kent Transition Center in Grand Rapids, Mich.
• Kent Vocational Options in Grand Rapids, Mich.
• Northwest Education Center in Jackson, Mich.
• Northwest Elementary in Jackson, Mich.
• Northwest High School in Jackson, Mich.
• Northwest Operations Building in Jackson, Mich.
• Parnall Elementary in Jackson, Mich.
• RW Kidder Middle School in Jackson, Mich.
• Van Buren ISD-Bert Goens Learning Center in Lawrence, Mich.
• Van Buren Technology Center in Lawrence, Mich.
• Argentine Elementary/Early Childhood Center in Linden, Mich.
• Central Elementary School in Linden, Mich.
• Hyatt Elementary in Linden, Mich.
• Linden Elementary in Linden, Mich.
• Linden Middle School in Linden, Mich.
• Linden High School in Linden, Mich.
• VBISD Community-Based Transition Center in Paw Paw, Mich.
• Rudyard Elementary School in Rudyard, Mich.
• Rudyard High/Middle School in Rudyard, Mich.
• White Pine Middle School in Saginaw, Mich.
• Lincoln Elementary in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
• Malcolm High School in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
• Sault Area High School and Career Center in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
• Sault Area Middle School in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
• Soo Township Elementary in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
• Washington Elementary in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
• Traverse City Central High School in Traverse City, Mich.
• Jean and Samuel Frankel Jewish Academy in West Bloomfield, Mich.

In order for a school to receive a MI HEARTSafe designation, it must perform at least one cardiac emergency response drill per year; have a written medical emergency response plan and team; have current CPR/AED certification of at least 10 percent of staff; have accessible, properly maintained and inspected AEDs with signs identifying their location; and ensure pre-participation sports screening of all student athletes using the current physical and history form endorsed by the Michigan High School Athletic Association.

Schools that meet all of the requirements will be able to apply for the MI HEARTSafe School designation each year. For more information about the MI HEARTSafe Schools program, visit www.migrc.org/miheartsafe.

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