Getting Started: Heart Safe School Accreditation

Agenda

• Know Your Plan• Consider the Facts• Role of the School• Preparing Schools for

Cardiac Emergencies• Heart Safe School

Accreditation Overview• Next Steps

Does your school have a defined plan of action?

Know Your Plan

Where are the

Automated External

Defibrillators (AEDs)?

Who knows CPR and maintains

control of the hallways and classrooms during an

emergency?

How is EMS activation triggered?

Sudden Cardiac Arrest can happen to anyone

Consider the Facts

Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation: 2013

Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation: 2013

1 in 50 schools in America will have a cardiac arrest

incident each year.

Average survival rate of an out-of-hospital child

cardiac arrest in the U.S. is less than 7.8%.

American Heart Association: 2013

American Heart Association: 2013

Did You Know?

In the United States, a young competitive athlete dies suddenly every three

days. (Heart Rhythm Society, 2007)

The Role of the School

“Most schools are closer to achieving accreditation than they think. It does take a little effort, but that effort is a small price to pay to be better prepared to save a life.” - Sarah McGraw-Timmes, RN, Lancaster City Schools Nurse

•A typical school day consists of 6 hours. The average school-aged child spends 28% of the day and 14% of his/her total annual hours in school.

Schools are responsible for providing a safe platform for learning and sharing.

•Clarity of school staff roles in an emergency is essential for coordinated response.

Developing campus-wide response and communication methods ensures effcient access to emergency equipment and minimizes rumors.

Assisting Schools in Preparation for Cardiac Emergencies

• PreventionAssess students’ risk levels for sudden cardiac arrest and sudden arrhythmia death syndromes.

• Readiness for ResponseAnticipate and prepare for students with additional risks and health care needs.

• General Preparation Build emergency response policies with input from the medical community that will be flexible enough to accommodate different students’ developmental levels.

Heart Safe School Accreditation (HSSA) Overview

Sudden Cardiac Awareness/Event

Screening and Risk Assessment

Care Plans

Emergency Medical Response Drills

Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs)

CPR Training for Staff

CPR Training for Students

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Thank You

The SADS Foundation (800) STOP – SADHSSA@sads.org

www.StopSADS.org