The East Greenbush CSD has a school board policy regarding Automated External Defibrillators (AED) and their availability in the event of a cardiac emergency on school property or during a school event. The school district meets all requirements set by New York State and the Dominic Murray Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act.
Training/Preparedness
- All interscholastic athletic coaches are certified in First Aid, CPR and AED. Coaches complete training annually.
- Columbia Athletics has a full time athletic trainer who attends competitions and practices daily. The athletic trainer is equipped with a portable AED unit.
- Columbia High School has an evening Security Monitor who is certified in First Aid, CPR and AED. The Security Monitor is equipped with a portable AED unit.
- An ambulance and EMT are on-site for all varsity football games.
- Coaches are refreshed on responding to emergency situations at their pre-season coaches meetings prior to each season and are reminded that they have AED units available to them for when traveling off campus.
- Each school has a full-time nurse who is certified in First Aid, CPR and AED.
- All school buildings have AED boxes accessible in prominent locations.
- Columbia High School, the largest school with the highest number of athletic games and practices, is equipped with 10 AED boxes throughout the building as well as portable AED units located in the Health Office, Security Office and Athletic Training Room.
- During the Fall and Spring Seasons, an AED unit is available at the Columbia High School Turf/Track area in the Blue Shed.
- Coaches practicing outside at Goff Middle School, Genet Elementary School, Pheasant Hollow Golf Course and Schodack Island State Park have an AED unit with them.
- The Athletic Department has portable AED units available for coaches to sign out when going off-site from the Columbia High School campus.
Prevention
- All parents/guardians must submit health information for their child as part of athletic registration prior to competition.
- All parents/guardians must submit a Physical Exam Form for their children in grades K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 as well as for all new students to the school district.
Dominic Murray Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act
The Dominic Murray Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act is a new law as of July 1, 2022. This law requires schools, students, and parents/guardians have information on sudden cardiac arrest risks, signs, and symptoms. Please note that sudden cardiac arrest in children and youth is rare. The incidence of sudden cardiac death (SCD) on the playing field is 0.61 in 100,000. Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is an emergency that happens when the heart suddenly stops working. SCA can cause death if not treated immediately, and even with treatment death may occur. Immediate treatment is cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use of an automatic external defibrillator (AED). All public schools must have a staff member trained in the use of CPR and AED in school and at all school athletic events. Preventing SCA before it happens is the best way to save a life. Both your family health history and your child’s personal history must be told to healthcare providers to help them know if your child is at risk for sudden cardiac arrest.