The board of education should obtain wide community input regarding this important issue. The decision can best be made by considering the school environment and assessing the risk of sudden cardiac arrest within the school setting. Schools need to have a comprehensive emergency response plan, which is coordinated with the local emergency medical service system. If PAD is chosen to be part of the school's emergency plan, it is imperative that adequate planning and support for the program be available. The prevention of heart disease in adults begins in childhood.
Schools can help promote healthy hearts by encouraging healthful behavior in students and staff.
A coordinated school health program offers many effective strategies to address student and staff health promotion and risk reduction strategies. Frank Zollo Michelle Cravetz, RN Statewide School Health Services Center Judy Leever, RN State Education Department Grace Stevens, RN Arlene Sheffield, RN References 1 American Heart Association, 1999. Sudden cardiac death in infants, children and adolescents. Pediatric Clinics of North America , Vol. 3 New York State Department of Health, Vital Statistics.