GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Ninth-graders at Ottawa Hills High School will learn how to respond in a health crisis using CPR and defibrillators through a pilot program sponsored by Amway.
The Grand Rapids Board of Education on Monday, Nov. 2, approved Amway's donation of 10 Physio Control LifePak CR+ Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for 10 schools, and support for the accompanying two-week pilot program that kicks off Monday, Nov. 9, with 150 students. The pilot will involve training and speakers.
Rachel VandenBrink, school nurse coordinator for GRPS, said the new program will be integrated into the high school's health class. The so-called SUPER CPR and AED will train the students to become Students United Prepared Emergency Responders (SUPER) and certify them in the American Heart Association's HeartSaver CPR and AED program.
"My hope is that the students feel comfortable helping a family member, friend, church member or someone else in their community in a crisis situation," said VandenBrink, who added the more people with such skills, the safer the community.
"They will be able to do something with what they've learned if someone's in that situation. We want them to take this out to their families and the community at large."
Photo of the Physio Control LifePak CR+. The Amway Corporation is donating 10 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to Grand Rapids Public Schools.
The pilot is the brainchild of Kevin McGraw, a senior security officer at Amway, who also is an AED and CPR instructor, firefighter and EMT.
McGraw said Amway has awarded a $26,250 grant to the School Emergency Response Coalition, a nonprofit he started, for the AEDs and pilot program.
"We want to partner with schools, businesses, police, fire and EMS for a smarter, safe community," said McGraw, who added he would like to see the pilot expand to other districts once it is proven successful.
Grand Rapids Public Schools, which has about 3,000 employees, trains more than 500 staff a year in CPR and AED use to follow district Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT) guidelines. These trained MERT responders help in an emergency medical response in their school buildings.
"Having more staff and students who are trained in CPR and AED in the district leads to a safer learning environment and community," said Superintendent Teresa Weatherall Neal. "We are excited to offer this pilot program to our freshmen at Ottawa Hills."
In an effort to teach and empower students to help others in need, school leaders said the program also will expose the students to public emergency responders in the community. Students will be introduced to American Medical Response (AMR) paramedics, Grand Rapids police officers and firefighters, GRPS school nurses, and other health care workers.
It will allow them to make connections with those who care for them and their families in times of crisis, according to the district. It also may inspire them to choose a career in the medical field.
The first week, students will hear from speakers, VandenBrink said. The second week will focus on training.
McGraw said he reached out to VandenBrink last school year after he made a presentation to the Michigan Alliance for Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death. He e wants to teach teens life-saving skills and give them another career path to consider.
About $13,000 of the grant money will go toward 10 AEDs to be distributed in the district.
VanDenBrink said five of the 10 schools receiving the AEDs don't have any on campus. That includes North Park and Grand Rapids Montessori and Stocking, East Leonard and Campus elementary schools.
The other five receiving an additional AED are Burton Elementary, GRPS University (training site), South West Community Campus, Ken-O-Sha Early Childhood Center-VanAuken, and Ottawa Hills, which has three but will receive one for the athletic department.
• In other business, the Heart of West Michigan United Way donated 2,640 books to GRPS's Schools of Hope program, a literacy program targeting students in grades one through three. The books are valued at $23,760.
Stephanie Painter, director of school health programs for GRPS, said now all district school buildings are equipped with the devices.
Monica Scott is the Grand Rapids K-12 education writer. Email her at mscott2@mlive.com and follow her on Twitter @MScottGR or Facebook