Kirkwood Schools Set the Standard for Student and Staff Safety with Heart Safe Designation

Kirkwood School District is now the first school district in St. Louis County to receive the Heart Safe School District designation. The designation comes after efforts over the past year by the Kirkwood School District Emergency Response Team to earn the Heart Safe School designation by developing and implementing a comprehensive Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP).

“This is a huge accomplishment and a reason for celebration,” said Grace Presley, BSN, RN, program coordinator with Project ADAM at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

This designation aligns with Missouri legislation (RSMo 160.482), which requires all public and charter schools to develop and implement a CERP by the 2026–27 school year. These plans must include appropriate automated external defibrillator (AED) placement, staff training in CPR and AED use, annual emergency drills, and coordination with local emergency medical services.

To earn the designation, school-based emergency response teams must successfully conduct and demonstrate a cardiac emergency drill during regular school hours. These drills ensure staff are prepared to respond quickly and effectively in the event of a cardiac emergency.

In the United States, an estimated 356,000 adults experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year, along with approximately 23,000 pediatric cases. While nearly 90% of these incidents are fatal, survival rates increase significantly with immediate intervention. Early response — including CPR and the use of an AED to restore a normal heart rhythm — can greatly improve outcomes. For more information about Heart Safe Schools, please visit Project ADAM’s website at www.projectadam.org/heart-safe-schools or  connect with Project ADAM at St. Louis Children’s Hospital at ProjectADAM@bjc.org.