MCC achieves MI Heart Safety School designation.

MCC achieves MI Heart Safety School designation.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

SCOTTVILLE — Mason County Central Schools was presented with the MI Heart Safe Schools designation Friday evening during half-time of the varsity football game for its efforts to train staff district-wide on responding to sudden cardiac death. Officials from MI Heart Safe Schools will present an award to the school during halftime of the Oct. 18 football game at Spartan Community Field. MCC is the first school within the West Shore Educational School District (Mason, Lake, Oceana counties) to receive the award.

MI Heart Safe Schools is presented by the Michigan Alliance for Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death of the Young, which is a collaborative of American Heart Association, Michigan Department of Community Health, and Michigan Department of Education.

“With this designation we are prepared for cardiac emergencies in all our school buildings K-12,” said Superintendent Jeff Mount.

Criteria included a written medical emergency response plan, a medical emergency response team, current CPR/AED certification, properly maintained and inspected AED’s, cardiac emergency response drill and pre-participation sports screening.

“We are Spartan proud to say Mason County Central Schools has met all criteria to protect our students, staff and visitors in the event of a cardiac emergency,” Mount said.

Criteria included a written medical emergency response plan, medical emergency response team; current CPR/AED certification for at least 10% of staff and 50% of coaches and physical education staff; sufficient number of accessible properly maintained and inspected AEDs, ready to use with signs identifying AED locations; performance of at least one cardiac emergency response drill per year; pre-participation sports screening for all athletes.

“It is important for us not only to celebrate this at a state level in October, but also locally with so many of you that supported us from the School Safety Planning Team, Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police, Mason County Emergency Management, Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital, Michigan Department of Education Regional Consultant and the dedicated staff and board members of Mason County Central Schools.”

Several school officials and agencies were represented Friday for the presentation, including MCC administrators, teachers, office personnel, and board of education, Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital, Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Scottville Police Department, Michigan State Police, and Mason County Emergency Management.

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