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Novi schools earn district‑wide Michigan Heart Safe Schools recognition
Summary
Novi officials marked district‑wide recognition as Michigan Heart Safe Schools, highlighting AED placement, staff CPR training, emergency plans and regular drills; presenters said those measures have helped save lives in Michigan this year.
Novi school board members on Dec. 19 celebrated the district’s designation as Michigan Heart Safe Schools, a recognition presenters said means every Novi school has written cardiac emergency plans, accessible automated external defibrillators and staff trained in CPR.
The recognition matters because it formalizes district practices designed to improve survival after sudden cardiac arrest. "We have become Michigan Heart Safe Schools for all of our schools in our district," said Kathy Ferris, identified at the meeting as the district’s supervisor of medical services, introducing a representative of Project ADAM and the Michigan Alliance for Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death in the Young.
Gwen Fassi, who described herself as working with Michigan Heart Safe and Project ADAM, summarized the program’s criteria and stakes: having a written cardiac emergency response plan, a trained response team with at least 10% of staff certified in CPR, accessible defibrillators that are maintained and tested, and regular drills. "Call, push, shock," Fassi said, describing the recommended response: call 911, perform chest compressions and retrieve an AED when available. She cited statewide data and said schools across Michigan used AEDs to help save lives this calendar year.
Board members thanked staff and program leaders for coordinating districtwide implementation, and the meeting included brief remarks praising specific district staff for their roles in meeting program standards. The board arranged a photo opportunity for school principals and program directors following the recognition.
District officials said the recognition will be renewed on a cyclical basis and credited collaboration with health providers and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for program materials and guidance. The board did not take any formal votes tied to funding during the presentation; the recognition was presented as an acknowledgment of work already completed.
