MOUNT VERNON – Saint Vincent de Paul School in Mount Vernon has become the first parochial school in the country to be named a Heart Safe School by the SADS (Sudden Death Arrhythmias Syndromes) Foundation and the Snider Community Heart Watch at Fairfield Medical Center in partnership with Knox Community Hospital.
Today, the school received a plaque and banner to display. Among those who attended the all-school assembly this morning were Father Mark Hammond, Mount Vernon Mayor Dick Mavis, Knox County Commissioners Teresa Bemiller, Thom Collier, and Roger Reed, Mount Vernon Fire Department’s Leo Swank, Dallas Gerber, representing Congressman Bob Gibbs, State Representative Margaret Ann Ruhl, Knox Community Hospital’s CEO Bruce White, and Dr. Gordon Snider and Elizabeth Snider.
From left, front row, Saint Vincent students Sam Wendt, Jada Kennerly, Karlyn Kanuckel, Brendan Richardson. Second row from left State Representative Margaret Ann Ruhl, Mayor Dick Mavis, Father Mark Hammond, County Commissioners Roger Reed, Teresa Bemiller, Dr. Bob Williams, Dr. Gordon Snider, St. Vincent principal Martha Downs, Elizabeth Snider, Dallas Gerber representing Congressman Bob Gibbs, and Knox County Commissioner Thom Collier – KnoxPages.com photo by Marty Trese
In order to receive the designation, the school had to meet seven elements/criteria. Those included: that every student have a self- assessment, a care plan on file for every student with a cardiac diagnosis, medical emergency drills quarterly, CPR training for one teacher for every 50 students, (Saint Vincent has one faculty member for every eight students in the building). Students have to have access to CPR training. All St. Vincent 8th grade students received the training.
Upon learning of the accreditation, Saint Vincent de Paul Principal Martha Downs said, “I personally want to say it was not my leadership, but the faculty and community believing in the effort and the team work behind it. Our efforts may impact many lives.” More than 95 percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims die before reaching a hospital. Knowing how to properly use an AED and successfully assist a victim in times of emergency saves lives.
To learn more about the Heart Safe School program contact Fairfield Medical Center, Snider Cardiovacular Institute in Lancaster at (740) 689-6893.
