West Michigan Schools Awarded for Being Prepared for Cardiac Emergencies

122 Michigan schools have been awarded the MI HEARTSafe School designation which recognizes schools that are prepared to respond to cardiac emergencies.

West Michigan schools recognized include schools in Belmont, Cedar Springs, Coopersville, Fennville, Grand Rapids, Rockford, Wyoming, and more.

The award is a collaborative effort of the Michigan departments of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), and Education (MDE); American Heart Association; Michigan High School Athletic Association; and the Michigan Alliance for Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death of the Young.

“Sudden cardiac death claims the lives of more than 300 Michigan children and young adults between the ages of one and 39 years of age each year,” said Dr. Eden Wells, chief medical executive of MDHHS. “Implementation of CPR and an automated external defibrillator (AED) within 3-5 minutes is crucial for increasing the chance of survival. Cardiac arrest is often unexpected and frightening, and I’m pleased to see so many of our schools taking preventative measures to address this health issue.”

Between 1999 and 2009 in Michigan, there were 3,134 people between 1 and 39 years of age who died of sudden cardiac death. Of those, 246 were between 5 and 19 years of age.

“MDE is proud to support MI HEARTSafe schools,” said State Superintendent Mike Flanagan. “Ensuring schools are prepared for sudden cardiac emergencies through planning, training, and AEDs is an important part of having safer learning environments for students, staff, and the community.”

Public Act 12 of 2014 requires all schools (grades kindergarten to 12) to have a cardiac emergency response plan in place. This designation recognizes 122 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 MI HEARTSafe Schools designation is in its second year. Last year, 40 schools received the designation in Michigan.

“The Michigan High School Athletic Association is proud to partner with the state of Michigan to promote the MI HEARTSafe Schools program,” said Jack Roberts, director of the Michigan High School Athletic Association. “It’s important we all do our part to help schools prepare for unexpected emergencies to keep children in our communities safe.”

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.
Ensure pre-participation sports screening of all student athletes using the current physical and history form endorsed by the Michigan High School Athletic Association.

The Michigan Genetics Resource Center lists schools currently recognized with the MI HEARTSafe School designation:

Adrian
Adrian HS (2014-2017)
McKinley Education Center (2014-2017)

Bangor
Bangor Middle School/HS (2014-2017)
Career Academy (2014-2017)
South Walnut Elementary (2014-2017)
Wood School (2014-2017)
Van Buren ISD Behavioral Education Center (2013-2016)

Belmont
Belmont Elementary (2014-2017)

Bloomingdale
Bloomingdale Elementary (2014-2017)
Bloomingdale Middle/HS (2014-2017)

Burton
Atherton Junior High/HS (2014-2017)
Dillon Elementary (2014-2017)

Cass City
Cass City Elementary (2013-2016)
Cass City Jr./Sr. High School (2013-2016)

Cassopolis
Lewis Cass ISD Brookside Learning Center (2014-2017)

Cedar Springs
Beach Elementary (2014-2017)
Cedar Springs High School (2013-2016)
Cedar Springs Middle School (2014-2017)
Cedar Trails Elementary (2014-2017)
Cedar View Elementary (2014-2017)
New Beginnings HS (2014-2017)
Red Hawk Elementary (2014-2017)

Charlevoix
St. Mary School (2014-2017)

Clinton Township
Lutz School (2013-2016)

Coldwater
Waldron Learning Center (2013-2016)

Coopersville
Coopersville HS (2014-2017)

Covert
Covert Public Schools (2014-2017)

Davison
Central Elementary (2014-2017)
Davison Alternative Education (2014-2017)
Davison HS (2014-2017)
Davison Middle School (2014-2017)
Gates Elementary (2014-2017)
Hahn Intermediate (2014-2017)
Hill Elementary (2014-2017)
Siple Elementary (2014-2017)
Thompson Elementary (2014-2017)

Decatur
Davis Elementary School (2014-2017)
Decatur Middle/HS (2014-2017)

Dowagiac
LCISD North Pointe Center (2014-2017)
Union High School (2013-2016)

Felch
North Dickinson County School (2014-2017)

Fennville
Fennville Elementary (2013-2016)
Fennville Middle School (2013-2016)
Fennville High School (2013-2016)

Flint
Atlantis Alternative HS (2014-2017)
Carman-Ainsworth HS (2014-2017)
Carman-Ainsworth Middle School (2014-2017)
Carman Park Baker Career Academy (2014-2017)
Dye Elementary (2014-2017)
Randels Elementary (2014-2017)
Rankin Elementary (2014-2017)
The Learning Community-Early Childhood Center (2014-2017)

Flushing
Central Elementary School (2014-2017)
Early Childhood Center (2014-2017)
Elms Elementary School (2014-2017)
Flushing HS (2014-2017)
Flushing Middle School (2014-2017)
Marion D. Crouse Instructional Center (2014-2017)
Seymour Elementary School (2014-2017)
Springview Elementary School (2014-2017)

Gobles
Gobles Elementary School (2014-2017)
Gobles Middle/HS (2014-2017)

Grand Rapids
Innovation Central High School (2013-2016)
Kent Career Technical Center (2013-2016)
Kent Transition Center (2013-2016)
Kent Vocational Options (2013-2016)
Union HS (2014-2017)

Hartford
Hartford HS (2014-2017)
Hartford Middle School (2014-2017)
Red Arrow Elementary (2014-2017)
Woodside Elementary (2014-2017)

Jackson
Napoleon Ackerson Lake HS (2014-2017)
Northwest Education Center (2013-2016)
Northwest Elementary (2013-2016)
Northwest High School (2013-2016)
Northwest Operations Building (2013-2016)
Parnall Elementary (2013-2016)
R.W. Kidder Middle School (2013-2016)

Lansing
Delta Center Elementary (2014-2017)

Lawrence
Lawrence High/Middle School (2014-2017)
Lawrence Elementary School (2014-2017)
Van Buren Conference Center (2014-2017)
Van Buren ISD - Bert Goens Learning Center (2013-2016)
Van Buren Technology Center (2013-2016)

Lawton
Accelerated Academic Center (2014-2017)
Lawton Elementary (2014-2017)
Lawton HS (2014-2017)
Lawton Middle School (2014-2017)

Linden
Argentine Elementary/Early Childhood Center (2013-2016)
Central Elementary School (2013-2016)
Hyatt Elementary (2013-2016)
Linden Elementary (2013-2016)
Linden Middle School (2013-2016)
Linden High School (2013-2016)

Mattawan
Mattawan Early Elementary (2014-2017)
Mattawan HS (2014-2017)
Mattawan Later Elementary (2014-2017)
Mattawan Middle School (2014-2017)

Napoleon
Erza Eby Elementary (2014-2017)
Napoleon HS (2014-2017)
Napoleon Middle School (2014-2017)

Paw Paw
Cedar Street Community and Family Center (2014-2017)
Paw Paw Early Elementary (2014-2017)
Paw Paw HS (2014-2017)
Paw Paw Later Elementary (2014-2017)
Paw Paw Middle School (2014-2017)
VBISD Community-Based Transition Center (2013-2016)

Plainwell
Plainwell HS (2014-2017)

Pullman
Pullman Elementary (2014-2017)

Richmond
Richmond HS (2014-2017)

Rockford
Cannonsburg Elementary (2014-2017)
Crestwood Elementary (2014-2017)
East Rockford Middle School (2014-2017)
Lakes Elementary (2014-2017)
Meadow Ridge Elementary (2014-2017)
North Rockford Middle School (2014-2017)
Parkside Elementary (2014-2017)
River Valley Academy (2014-2017)
Rockford HS (2014-2017)
Rockford HS Freshman Center (2014-2017)
Roguewood Elementary and Rockford Spanish Immersion (2014-2017)
Valley View Elementary (2014-2017)

Rudyard
Rudyard Elementary School (2013-2016)
Rudyard High/Middle School (2013-2016)

Saginaw
White Pine Middle School (2013-2016)

Saline
Harvest Elementary (2014-2017)
Heritage Elementary (2014-2017)
Liberty School (2014-2017)
Pleasant Ridge Elementary (2014-2017)
Saline HS (2014-2017)
Saline Middle School (2014-2017)
Woodland Meadows Elementary (2014-2017)

Sault Ste. Marie
Lincoln Elementary (2013-2016)
Malcolm High School (2013-2016)
Sault Area Middle School (2013-2016)
Sault Area High School and Career Center (2013-2016)
Soo Township Elementary (2013-2016)
Washington Elementary (2013-2016)

Schoolcraft
Early Elementary (2014-2017)
Elementary School (2014-2017)
Schoolcraft HS (2014-2017)
Schoolcarft Middle School (2014-2017)

South Haven
Baseline Middle School (2014-2017)
LC Mohr HS (2014-2017)
Lincoln Elementary (2014-2017)
Maple Grove Elementary (2014-2017)
North Shore Elementary (2014-2017)

St. Johns
Eureka Elementary (2014-2017)
Gateway North Elementary (2014-2017)
Riley Elementary (2014-2017)
St. Johns HS (2014-2017)
St. Johns Middle School (2014-2017)

Temperance
Bedford HS (2014-2017)
Bedford Junior HS (2014-2017)
Jackman Road Elementary (2014-2017)

Traverse City
Traverse City Central High School (2013-2016)

Utica
Burr Elementary (2014-2017)

Warren
Rockwell Middle School (2014-2017)

West Bloomfield
Jean and Samuel Frankel Jewish Academy (2013-2016)

Wyoming
East Lee Campus (2014-2017)
Godfrey Elementary (2014-2017)
The Early Childhood Center (2014-2017)

Learn More About the MI HEARTSafe Schools Program