Northborough/Southborough – The Northborough-Southborough School District supports measures now wending their way through the state Legislature that make sure sports coaches are trained to recognize and respond to episodes of sudden cardiac arrest and require AED — automated external defibrillator—devices in schools.
But educators and administrators in the district did not wait for the bills to pass before taking action on their own.
Coaches leading teams into the spring season are being trained to spot and respond to episodes of sudden cardiac arrest and the use of AEDs, which the district had already procured.
“This is similar to the way we developed concussion protocols for student athletes. The first step is awareness,” explained Algonquin Regional High School teacher Steve Godbout. “If we can notice warning signs and address emergencies, we are in a much better position to keep students healthy and safe.”
The issue is personal for Godbout, who learned his own son has a heart condition, prompting the family to minimize risks from playing sports.
Too many other families do not get to make such plans, as sudden cardiac arrest claims the lives of thousands of children each year, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, and it is the number one cause of death among student athletes.
Godbout brought the issue to Schools Superintendent Christine Johnson, and the district lobbied the state Legislature to pass two bills — S. 1157, which speaks to training coaches on spotting and responding to sudden cardiac arrest, and S. 1191, which requires AED devices in school buildings.
But Johnson agreed with Godbout that action should take place before waiting to see the fate of the bills – which proved wise as both were ultimately sent to study, delaying their possible passage.
“This was something that made good sense. It seemed logical to add the AED training component to the required CPR training for coaches. I’m pleased that we could move on this important initiative quickly,” Johnson said.
“As educators we enjoy nothing more than watching our students challenge themselves and grow,” Godbout said. “But it is our responsibility to make sure we provide safe, healthy environments for them as well.”
