title: Cardiac Emergency Response Planning for Schools: A Policy Statement.
abstract: A sudden cardiac arrest in school or at a school event is potentially devastating to families and communities. An appropriate response to such an event-as promoted by developing, implementing, and practicing a cardiac emergency response plan (CERP)-can increase survival rates. Understanding that a trained lay-responder team within the school can make a difference in the crucial minutes between the time when the victim collapses and when emergency medical services arrive empowers school staff and can save lives. In 2015, the American Heart Association convened a group of stakeholders to develop tools to assist schools in developing CERPs. This article reviews the critical components of a CERP and a CERP team, the factors that should be taken into account when implementing the CERP, and recommendations for policy makers to support CERPs in schools.
authors.affiliation: Consulting School Nurse, Cape Coral, Florida.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Cardiologist, University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martin Goble
authors.affiliation: Consulting School Nurse, Cape Coral, FloridaPediatric Cardiologist, University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.affiliation: Consulting School Nurse, Cape Coral, FloridaPediatric Cardiologist, University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Courson
authors.affiliation: Consulting School Nurse, Cape Coral, FloridaPediatric Cardiologist, University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Gwen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fosse
authors.affiliation: Consulting School Nurse, Cape Coral, FloridaPediatric Cardiologist, University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Randall
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gillary
authors.affiliation: Consulting School Nurse, Cape Coral, FloridaPediatric Cardiologist, University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Halowich
authors.affiliation: Consulting School Nurse, Cape Coral, FloridaPediatric Cardiologist, University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Julia H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Indik
authors.affiliation: Consulting School Nurse, Cape Coral, FloridaPediatric Cardiologist, University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Madeleine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Konig
authors.affiliation: Consulting School Nurse, Cape Coral, FloridaPediatric Cardiologist, University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lopez-Anderson
authors.affiliation: Consulting School Nurse, Cape Coral, FloridaPediatric Cardiologist, University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: M Kathleen
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Consulting School Nurse, Cape Coral, FloridaPediatric Cardiologist, University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Mary M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.affiliation: Consulting School Nurse, Cape Coral, FloridaPediatric Cardiologist, University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ranous
authors.affiliation: Consulting School Nurse, Cape Coral, FloridaPediatric Cardiologist, University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Comilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sasson
authors.affiliation: Consulting School Nurse, Cape Coral, FloridaPediatric Cardiologist, University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taras
authors.affiliation: Consulting School Nurse, Cape Coral, FloridaPediatric Cardiologist, University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000592:standards*; D002648:Child; D047548:Defibrillators; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012573:School Nursing / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States
keywords: advocacy; cardiac emergency response plan; policy; school health; sudden cardiac arrest