CARDIAC EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN: NOW REQUIRED FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR
Here's What You Need to Know to Stay Compliant!
On July 1st, Governor Pritzker signed House Bill 5394, making a significant step toward student and staff safety! The new amendment to the School Safety Drill Act mandates all Illinois schools to develop and implement a comprehensive cardiac emergency response plan for the 2024-2025 school year, building on the previous legislation that required Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in schools.
This new bill will create a safer school environment for our kids and school personnel, affecting over 2 million people in Illinois schools every day. Our role as a First Aid provider is to be a voice that keeps our communities safe and aware through INFORMATION!
That being said, here’s what you can do to stay prepared and up-to-date with the newest requirement this coming school year.
First Things First... Equip Your School with an AED!
House Bill 3571 requires all schools to have at least one Automated External Defibrillator and one or more trained AED users on site. The AED must be accessible and ready-to-rescue in case of a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) emergency.
“It is estimated that up to 23,000 children under the age of 18 experience cardiac arrests outside of a hospital annually in this country. Of those incidents, about 40% are sports related. In schools with AEDs, approximately 70% of children survive cardiac arrest – 7 times the overall survival rate for children.”
– American Heart Association
A managed AED service ensures that a trained Representative will visit your school on a monthly basis to check the functionality of your AEDs, verify inspection to keep you compliant with Illinois regulations, and give you peace of mind when it comes to your school's safety!
In a sudden emergency, anyone in the school can end up being the ‘first responder.’ Providing high-quality CPR makes all the difference in increasing chances of survival. That's why our AEDs are enhanced with Real CPR Help Technology, which provides real-time CPR feedback on the depth and rate of the rescuer's chest compressions!
Develop Your Cardiac Emergency Response Plan
Your Cardiac Emergency Response Plan must outline how your school personnel should respond to a SCA emergency (or similar life-threatening emergencies) that occur on school grounds or during school-sponsored activities and events. The plan should be in accordance with guidelines set forth by the American Heart Association or other nationally-recognized standards that outline the appropriate response to a SCA emergency.
From having functional equipment to ensuring proper emergency procedure, AED compliance can get pretty complex. Luckily, an AED expert can guide you as you develop your plan to ensure nothing gets overlooked! Our First Aid Representatives are educated and trained to assess your facility and provide suggestions to keep your school as safe as possible – all while following the necessary standards.
No detail is too small when it comes to increasing chances of SCA survival for your students and staff.
Provide Training For Your Cardiac Emergency Response Team
Having just an AED or a written plan in place is not enough. Identifying the members of your cardiac emergency response team (and their roles) is the first step – providing extensive training to ensure the effectiveness of the cardiac emergency response plan comes next. The training should extensively cover the necessary skills and knowledge required to implement the response plan effectively, including the use of AEDs and other critical life-saving techniques (such as the Heimlich maneuver and CPR).
Train with Lechner First Aid Supply
Our instructor-led courses teach your team to respond to an emergency in the critical minutes before medics arrive. A series of three steps will help your team handle emergencies safely, timely and effectively.
- Walk-Through: Understand the steps for recognizing an emergency before ambulance arrival
- Hands-On: Learn skills using a hands-on approach and practice realistic scenarios using a mannequin
- AED Training: AED technology, paired with CPR training, will ensure your team feels well-equipped for emergencies
Update & Distribute Emergency Procedure Information
The Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act was also been amended, which means that school boards are now required to provide information on emergency procedures and techniques to teachers, administrators, coaches, and other relevant school personnel within 30 days of the start of the school year. This includes basics like the Heimlich maneuver, hands-only CPR, and the use of AEDs. This broad distribution ensures everyone acts swiftly and effectively in the event of a cardiac emergency.
Review the Plan on an Annual Basis
Schools must review procedures yearly to ensure they are still in line with the cardiac emergency response plan. This review will help identify any areas needing improvement and ensure that all staff are up-to-date with emergency protocols!
Understand the WHY
With each minute delay in treatment, chance of survival decreases by 10%. By having a solid plan and thorough training, schools can respond quickly and more effectively to cardiac emergencies.
As we approach the 2024-2025 school year, schools are gearing up to meet these new requirements. As your local First Aid Team, we’re here to provide guidance and safety solutions for your school's needs!
Reach out to us to request a quote, a free safety assessment, or to learn more about state requirements.
READY TO PROTECT YOUR WORKPLACE?
Contact us today for a free safety assesment of your facility.
