Several organizations will come together next week to celebrate more than 300 schools that have taken steps to prepare for sudden cardiac emergencies by earning a MI HEARTSafe designation.

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Nearly 1,000 schools have earned the recognition since the inception of the program in 2013. This year, a record-breaking 312 schools are being recognized for their work during the 2023-2024 school year, with 158 schools receiving the award for the first time — marking the most designations in the program’s history.

The recognition is awarded by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Michigan Department of Education (MDE), American Heart Association, Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) and Michigan Alliance for Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death of the Young (MAP-SCDY).  

This year, House Bills 5527 and 5528 were passed to create comprehensive emergency response requirements for schools. That includes a written cardiac emergency response plan for the school day, afterschool activities and sports, accessible inspected automated external defibrillators or AEDs, cardiac response drills, and pre-participation screenings.  

A virtual training in January will teach schools how to get MI HEARTSafe recognition. Find out more information at Migrc.org/miheartsafe.  

Other headlines for Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024:

• The Michigan chapter of the Arab American Civil Rights League and the INSAF Project is hosting a virtual training at 1 p.m. Nov. 8 for attorneys and law students who assist Lebanese-American families trying to leave Lebanon.
• Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit is collecting donations for its Community Friends Day to support homeless animals. The organization says it needs to raise about $900 per animal for the almost 2500 dogs and cats they care for each year.
• Votes are still being counted in races for Michigan’s statewide education boards. View the latest election results at wdet.org/electionresults.
• A new report from the University of Michigan’s Youth Policy Lab shows rates of depression and anxiety among 8th to 12th graders in Detroit dropped below pre-pandemic levels.

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