Policy 5147.27

Students

First Aid/Emergency Medical Care

Use of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs)

The Newtown School District strives to provide a safe environment for students, staff, parents and community as they learn and recreate in school facilities. In order to assist individuals who may experience cardiac arrest on school property, the Newtown Board of Education has acquired automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) to be placed at each school within the District.  The AED and trained personnel shall be available during (1) the school’s normal operational hours, (2) school-sponsored athletic events and practices on school grounds, and (3) school-sponsored events not taking place during normal school operational hours. The automatic external defibrillators shall be used in emergency situations warranting its use.  Each school shall have school staff trained in the use of AEDs and in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).  Such training shall be in accordance with the standards set forth by the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association.  

The AED will be stored in an accessible location in each school.  The defibrillators shall be maintained and tested in accordance with the operational guidelines of the manufacturer and monitored by the school nurse. (or medical advisor, athletic director, safety coordinator, etc.)

The Emergency Medical Service System is to be activated immediately upon discovery of a situation in which the use of an AED is anticipated, as required.  Activation will be via the 911 emergency telephone system.  The activation of the Emergency Medical Service System must not be delayed due to the actual or anticipated use of an AED.

The Superintendent of Schools shall establish administrative guidelines that will outline the specific responsibilities, training, management and procedures for the use of the District’s automatic external defibrillators.

Teachers and other school personnel, who have fulfilled the training requirements of this policy, providing emergency first aid involving the use of an AED shall be immune from liability if they meet the statutory requirements for immunity, which include a course in first aid that includes CPR and training in the use of AEDs provided in accordance with the standards of the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association.

It is the policy of the Board of Education to support the use of automatic external defibrillators and trained school personnel during medically appropriate circumstances.

The Board recognizes that in accordance with applicable legislation, it does not have to comply with these provisions if state, federal, or private funding is not available to it for AED purchasing and for school personnel training.

Emergency Action Response Plans

Each school shall develop an emergency action response plan addressing the appropriate use of school personnel to respond to incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while on school grounds.  Also, each school with an athletic department or organized athletic program shall develop an emergency action response plan addressing appropriate school personnel response to the same circumstances while attending or participating in an athletic event or practice on school grounds.

(cf. 5141 - Student Health Services)
(cf. 5141.1 - Care of Accidents)
(cf. 5141.3 - Health Assessments and Immunizations)
(cf. 5142 - Safety)

Legal Reference:    Connecticut General Statutes
            19a-175 Definitions
            10-212d Availability of automatic external defibrillators in schools
            10-221 Boards of education to prescribe rules.             Public Law 106-505 Cardiac Arrest Survival Act.
            Public Law 105-170 Aviator Medical Assistance Act.

Policy adopted:    July 9, 2019    
NEWTOWN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Newtown, Connecticut