Schools

Our Heart Safe Schools Program is easy to implement.

ATTENTION CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS:

On July 1, 2019, Assembly Bill 2009 went into effect

Any school that has an interscholastic athletics program will be required to have at least one AED available on campus. They must be available to athletic trainers and coaches, and be regularly tested and maintained. Please see AB 2009 text in box below.

Via Heart Project has placed AEDs in over 400 California Schools. Our Maintenance and Compliance Program is tailored specifically for schools. We make it easy to comply with the laws and make sure your AED is ready for use at any time. All schools purchasing an AED from Via Heart Project will receive a FREE wall cabinet and first year of our Maintenance and Compliance and Medical Direction Program.

You’d like to become a Heart Safe Campus! This is great news! Did you know that each year 5,000 to 10,000 children die from sudden cardiac arrest and that one student athlete dies from undetected medical conditions every three days? Via works with school administrators, school boards, and insurance companies to develop an AED program that fits the needs of each campus.

Our Heart Safe Schools Program is easy to implement and acts in accordance with all state and local regulations, ensuring your AED is ready for use in the event of an emergency.

Our Annual Maintenance Program is intended for schools that have already purchased an AED. We make sure your AED is housed in a unlocked wall cabinet, registered with the county, has non-expired batteries and electrodes, proper signage, and is compliant with all local and state regulations.

Schools without a current AED program may need help with board presentations, understanding board policies, fund-raising assistance, and purchasing the actual AED. Via can help! We providing PowerPoint presentations, board policy examples, and videos to boost fundraising. When a school purchases an AED from us, they’ll receive an interior wall cabinet and the first year of our maintenance and compliance services (including medical direction)–all free!

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. Section 35179.4 is added to the Education Code, to read:

35179.4. If a school district or charter school elects to offer any interscholastic athletic program, the governing board of the school district or the governing body of the charter school shall ensure that there is a written emergency action plan in place that describes the location and procedures to be followed in the event of sudden cardiac arrest and other medical emergencies related to the athletic program’s activities or events. The written emergency action plan shall be posted in compliance with the most recent pertinent guidelines of the National Federation of State High School Associations.

SEC. 2. Section 35179.6 is added to the Education Code, to read:

35179.6. (a) For purposes of this section, an “AED” is an automated external defibrillator.

(b) Commencing July 1, 2019, if a school district or charter school elects to offer any interscholastic athletic program, the school district or the charter school shall acquire at least one AED for each school within the school district or the charter school. The school district or the charter school is encouraged to ensure that the AED or AEDs are available for the purpose of rendering emergency care or treatment within a recommended three to five minutes of sudden cardiac arrest to pupils, spectators, and any other individuals in attendance at the athletic program’s on campus activities or events and shall ensure that the AED or AEDs are available to athletic trainers and coaches and authorized persons at these activities or events.

(c) Subdivision (b) of Section 49417 shall apply for the purposes of determining whether an employee of a school district is liable for any civil damages resulting from his or her use, attempted use, or nonuse of an AED in the rendering of emergency care or treatment pursuant to this section.

(d) Subdivision (c) of Section 49417 shall apply for the purposes of determining whether a public school or school district is liable for any civil damages resulting from any act or omission in the rendering of emergency care or treatment pursuant to this section.

(e) Except as provided in subdivision (g), if an employee of a charter school complies with Section 1714.21 of the Civil Code in rendering emergency care or treatment through the use, attempted use, or nonuse of an AED at the scene of an emergency, the employee shall not be liable for any civil damages resulting from any act or omission in the rendering of the emergency care or treatment.

(f) Except as provided in subdivision (g), if a charter school complies with the requirements of Section 1797.196 of the Health and Safety Code, the charter school shall be covered by Section 1714.21 of the Civil Code and shall not be liable for any civil damages resulting from any act or omission in the rendering of the emergency care or treatment.

(g) Subdivisions (e) and (f) do not apply in the case of personal injury or wrongful death that results from gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct on the part of the person who uses, attempts to use, or fails to use an AED to render emergency care or treatment.

(h) In order to ensure public safety, each school district or charter school that elects to offer any interscholastic athletic program shall ensure that its AED or AEDs are maintained and regularly tested according to the operation and maintenance guidelines set forth by the manufacturer, the American Heart Association, or the American Red Cross, and according to any applicable rules and regulations set forth by the governmental authority under the federal Food and Drug Administration and any other applicable state and federal authority.

(i) This section does not alter the requirements of Section 1797.196 of the Health and Safety Code.

Schools With Existing AEDs On Campus

You’ve purchased an AED but are concerned it may not be compliant with local and state regulations. When you sign up for our Annual Maintenance Program and make a 3-year commitment, Via will:

Evaluate (and replace, as necessary) your device’s batteries and pads.
Register your AED with the county.
Provide you with a template for your required policy and procedure statement.
Get you set up on our monthly maintenance reminder email blast.

Our helpful customer care rep will personally follow up if we don’t hear from you or your assigned staff member each month. Working together, we’ll ensure your AED is ready for use when it’s needed most!

Schools Without an AED On Campus

As a vendor-neutral, non-profit organization, we’re here to help you choose the AED brand that is right for your campus! We’ll advise you on device selection, wall-cabinet placement, and the number of AEDs needed for your facility. We also offer certified CPR training classes for your staff.

Via takes care of all compliance issues, including registering your AED with the county and providing a Web-based portal for your monthly maintenance check-in. Our customer care rep will personally follow up if we don’t hear from you or your assigned staff member each month. Working together, we’ll ensure your AED is ready for use when it’s needed!