Health Services & Wellness

Maintaining an automated external defibrillator (AED) system and staff trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the schools enables responders to deliver early defibrillation and resuscitation to victims who experience sudden cardiac arrest. AED devices are found in every building in the district and are available for use at any time by anyone in a medical emergency.

The Automated External Defibrillator (AED) system is a program that includes a medical emergency response team (MERT). The MERT team shall consist of staff who volunteer to be part of the team, including nurses, teachers, para-educators, secretaries, principals and others. Each member must be currently certified in CPR and AED by participating successfully in a nationally recognized training program, to use the AED on a victim. Written guidelines for emergencies related to use of AEDs and CPR shall be provided to all MERT members, and annual training and re-training, for new and current members.

Except in extenuating circumstances, each school shall have two persons certified in the use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) during regular school hours when school is in session and students are present.

The AED system will be facilitated in accordance with approved district procedures. The AED units are owned by Pine-Richland School District and will be housed in secure and accessible locations.

1. AED units will be housed in all school district buildings. 
2. AED units will be checked regularly for errors or malfunctioning. 
3. In the event the AED is used on a victim of cardiac arrest, an Incident Report will be filed and a copy of the recorded files will be downloaded from the AED and provided to the EMT service and/or the victim’s physician. 
4. The following resources will be used to establish and maintain an AED program to meet national standards:

• PA Public Access Defibrillation Law Summary 
• AHA and ARC AED Guidelines 
• Medical Emergency Action Plan 
• Infection Control Procedure for occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens 
• Good Samaritan Act providing immunity from liability exclusion

The AED may be used by all members of the school district’s MERT teams who have successfully completed training or any trained volunteer responder who has successfully completed an approved CPR and AED training program and has a current successful course completion card.