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Patchogue-Medford board adopts revised districtwide school safety plan including cardiac emergency response
Summary
The Patchogue-Medford board approved a revised districtwide safety plan that adds a cardiac emergency response protocol aligned with state law; the plan requires AEDs accessible across buildings, annual staff training, EMS coordination and post-incident reporting.
The Patchogue-Medford Union Free School District board voted Jan. 12 to adopt a revised districtwide school safety plan that incorporates a cardiac emergency response protocol required under recent New York State law. The board moved and the chair declared the motion carried.
The Director of Security, who presented the proposal at the public hearing, said the plan "establishes clear procedures for rapid recognition, immediate CPR and prompt use of an AED" and applies to students, staff and visitors during the instructional day and school-sponsored events. The presentation noted AEDs will be located in accessible, clearly marked areas and that building-level emergency response maps will identify AED locations.
The plan also requires annual training for staff in CPR and AED use, maintenance and inspection of AEDs in accordance with manufacturers' guidance and public health requirements, and designation of at least one trained staff member for off-campus events. In the event of an emergency, staff are directed to call 911 immediately, notify building administration, begin CPR when indicated and preserve AED data for EMS and hospital review.
Administrators said each building will maintain a roster of staff certified in CPR/AED use and that athletic coaches must keep current certification. The presentation added that a registered nurse is assigned daily at each building and that a post-incident debriefing and district incident reporting procedures will follow any cardiac emergency.
Board members were told the plan aligns with guidance from the American Heart Association and the New York State Education Department and that the public comment period for the revisions began Nov. 21, 2025. A board member moved to approve the revised plan "for the 2025–26 school year and authoriz[e] the district administration to submit it to the New York State Education Department." The chair announced the motion carried; no roll-call vote or tally was recorded in the public record.
Next steps: the district will submit the approved plan to the New York State Education Department and continue implementation steps, including building-level training and signage updates.
