Octorara Schools Lead Chester County in Youth Heart Safety Certification
The Octorara Area School District has achieved a significant milestone in student safety, becoming the first district in Chester County to have all its schools certified as Youth Heart Watch Schools by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). This certification ensures that each school is fully prepared to respond to cardiac emergencies, thanks to the dedicated efforts of nurses, staff, and administrators.
The initiative began last spring when the district’s nurses learned about CHOP’s Youth Heart Watch program during a meeting of the Chester County School Nurses Association. Inspired by a presentation from Tredyffrin/Easttown School District and recognizing that sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death on school campuses, Octorara’s nurses saw an opportunity to make a difference.
“We were already discussing the implementation of Cardiac Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) in our district and looking into funding for an additional AED,” said Sarah Morrissey, Certified School Nurse at Octorara Junior/Senior High School. “Learning about the support available from CHOP’s program motivated us to go all in on this effort.”
With strong support from administrators, Octorara’s nurses spent several months preparing to implement Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs) and training staff across all schools. The District’s nursing team includes Tami Cooper, Kris Guertler, Beth Linnenbaugh, and Wendy Risch.
Each of the school’s Cardiac Emergency Response Team member is now CPR/AED certified, with training led by Rob Linnenbaugh, an instructor from the district’s Homeland Security and Protective Services program. The district also expanded access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), purchasing seven new devices, with an additional one funded through Senator Katie Muth’s ‘Aiden’s AED Action Plan’ grant.
The response from staff has been overwhelmingly positive.
“We had no trouble getting volunteers for our emergency response teams,” Morrissey said. “In addition, all staff members have been trained in Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness and our district’s emergency response procedures.”
This achievement aligns with CHOP’s broader efforts to promote heart safety in schools. emphasis on cardiac preparedness in educational institutions. By becoming a Youth Heart Watch School, Octorara is focusing on the importance of student health and safety, ensuring that every school is equipped and ready to act in a cardiac emergency.
“We have an incredible team of Registered Nurses and Certified School Nurses who are truly dedicated to student and staff well-being,” Morrissey said. “This was a worthwhile endeavor, and we are proud to be a model for other districts.”
For more information on CHOP’s Youth Heart Watch program and how schools can become heart safe, visit CHOP’s Youth Heart Watch Program Recognizes Six “Heart Safe” Schools in School District of Philadelphia.
