All three Manchester Schools designated as 2016 MI HEARTSafe Schools

Last week, the Michigan Departments of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), and Education (MDE); American Heart Association (AHA); Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA); and Michigan Alliance for Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death of the Young (MAP-SCDY) awarded 105 schools in Michigan, including Manchester’s Klager Elementary, Middle School and High School with the MI HEARTSafe School designation which recognizes schools that are prepared to respond to cardiac emergencies.

“Many sudden cardiac deaths that claim the lives of children and young adults could be prevented through screening, detection, and treatment,” said Dr. Eden Wells, chief medical executive of MDHHS. “Appropriate medical response within three to five minutes is crucial for increasing the chance of survival, which is why I’m pleased to see so many of our schools taking vital measures to prepare and address this health issue.”

In order for a school to receive a MI HEARTSafe School 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, 100 percent of head varsity coaches, and 50 percent of P.E. 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.

Manchester’s superintendent, Cherie Vanatter, stated, “We train all of our employees in CPR and responding to cardiac emergencies. We are very proud to have received the HEARTSafe designation.” Manchester’s schools are three of the only fifteen schools in Washtenaw County to receive the designation. Jackson Count had eleven schools on the list and Lenawee only five. For the full list of schools visit https://migrc.org/Library/HeartSafeSpotlight.html.

Between 2003 and 2012 in Michigan, there were 2,590 young individuals between 1 and 39 years of age who died of sudden cardiac death. Of those, 214 were between 5 and 19 years of age. This is the third year of the MI HEARTSafe Schools program in Michigan. In the first two years of the initiative, 162 schools were previously designated as MI HEARTSafe Schools and prepared to help reduce the number of sudden cardiac deaths in our youth. Public Act 12 of 2014 requires all schools (grades kindergarten to 12) to have a cardiac emergency response plan in place.

This MI HEARTSafe School designation recognizes the 267 school buildings 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. 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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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.