Many Coppell ISD Schools are experiencing numerous changes, from new policies to new buildings, yet Coppell High School Ninth Grade Center has evolved in a way that many students might not even notice.
This month, CHS9 has officially been labeled a Heart Safe School, recognizing the school for its ability to respond effectively in the event of a cardiac emergency.
This designation is a part of Project Adam, a program establishing cardiac emergency response plans in schools nationwide. At CHS9, this plan has been refined to ensure the most effective response in the event of an emergency.
“If there’s a cardiac emergency, the first responder activates our medical alert team and 911 while CPR begins immediately,” CHS9 nurse Cristy Runyan said.
Each campus is supported by a Medical Alert Team.
“It’s a group of six to eight people, usually nurses, administrators and teachers would respond and we all have a role,” Runyan said.
Despite the importance of the designation, earning the Heart Safe distinction did not require major changes for the campus.
“We realized we were already doing everything required, so we figured we should get credit for all the hard work we’d already done,” Runyan said.
Rather than starting from scratch, the district decided to formalize efforts already in place.
“Coppell ISD was already ahead of the curve,” New Tech High @ Coppell Nurse Becki Lander said.
To maintain these distinctions, Coppell schools regularly practice emergency drills. Specifically, New Tech runs two cardiac emergency drills every year, one in the fall and one in the spring.
Despite the routine drills, developing the MAT team was not without challenges.
“There was a little bit of hesitancy when we were developing our medical alert team response, since it was one more thing that we would be adding to our teaching staff’s responsibilities,” Lander said.
However, this concern faded once the importance of the program became clear.
“We could be saving these children’s lives by implementing this program, and we decided it was a resounding yes, we have to do this,” Lander said.
For many staff members, this preparation is personal, shaped by roles outside of school.
“We come to our jobs with also having that parent perspective since a lot of us have kids in Coppell,” Lander said.
That mindset sets the tone for how safety is approached on campus.
“Along with our regular safety procedures and drills, our teachers and students do a great job following those procedures because they know it’s for their own safety,” CHS9 assistant principal Jessica Lynch said.
By putting safety and preparing for the unexpected first, CHS9 serves as a model for what preparation can achieve.
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