Cardiac Emergency Response Plan: Is Your School Prepared?

Abstract

School nurses play a major role in school readiness and emergency management, collaborating in safety assessment of schools and leading efforts to ensure the overall wellness of each child. Sudden cardiac arrest is a growing concern among students, and schools are a place of gathering, not only of our students and educators but also for the community, as family and friends support children in performances, sporting events, and religious or cultural activities. Implementing a school Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) provides a lifesaving resource for the entire community. This article will review the incidence of sudden cardiac arrest, discuss the latest guidance regarding preventive cardiac screening questions for all children, and share how one school district implemented a CERP using readily available resources.