William M. Reeves Elementary is the first elementary school in Dorchester District Two to receive a Heart Safe School designation. Employees from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) were joined by school nursing staff and first responders with Dorchester County EMS at the school Wednesday, Dec. 6, to train personnel on responding to sudden cardiac arrest.
On average, almost 1,000 people every day experience sudden cardiac death in the United States, according to statistics from MUSC. The sudden cardiac death survival rate in the U.S. is only 10.6% and affects young children, athletes, teachers and parents. All schools in South Carolina have an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Still, the presence of an AED is not enough to guarantee a positive outcome, especially when many do not know how to use one.
The MUSC Children’s Health Cardiology team has partnered with Project ADAM to educate South Carolina schools, nurses, coaches, trainers, parents and others about pediatric sudden cardiac death and implement public access defibrillators statewide.
