North Carolina schools required to have cardiac emergency plans under new state law

RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) — North Carolina public schools will soon be required to have cardiac emergency response plans in place after Governor Josh Stein signed the state’s budget into law Tuesday, approving a measure aimed at improving emergency preparedness and expanding access to lifesaving equipment on school campuses.

The new law incorporates the Smart Heart Act, requiring every public school in North Carolina to establish and maintain a cardiac emergency response plan beginning with the 2026-27 school year.

The state budget also includes $4 million to help schools ensure automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are readily accessible on campus. The funding is intended to improve schools’ ability to respond quickly when cardiac emergencies occur.

Supporters of the legislation, including the American Heart Association, said the new statewide standards could help save lives by ensuring schools are prepared before an emergency happens.

“We’re so grateful to the lawmakers who championed this bill and treated it like the priority it is,” said Emma Kate Burns, the American Heart Association’s North Carolina Government Relations Director. “They heard from their constituents and they acted. This is the kind of leadership that gives every North Carolina family peace of mind, knowing their child’s school is prepared to act in a cardiac emergency.”

According to the American Heart Association, more than 356,000 people experience cardiac arrest outside of hospitals each year in the United States. During the 2023-24 school year, 13 people suffered cardiac arrest on North Carolina public school campuses, including one child who died.

Health experts say immediate CPR can double or even triple a person’s chances of survival, while quick access to an AED significantly improves outcomes. The association estimates that approximately 23,000 children under the age of 18 experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year nationwide.

Advocates say preparation is especially important because cardiac emergencies can happen anywhere on school grounds, including classrooms, cafeterias, gymnasiums, playgrounds, and athletic fields.

Earlier this year, Sarah Council, director of student services for the Roanoke Rapids Graded School District, urged lawmakers to approve the legislation.

“No district should have to lose a child and wish they had been more prepared,” Council said. “This legislation is necessary right now. We can’t wait any longer. We owe it to our children because every single one of them deserves the best chance possible to come home.”

Under the new law, North Carolina public schools will be required to:

• Develop and maintain a cardiac emergency response plan.
• Improve access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on school campuses.
• Support school personnel with training and preparedness for cardiac emergencies.
• Strengthen emergency response coordination to improve survival during cardiac events.

Supporters say the measure represents a significant step toward improving school safety across North Carolina by helping ensure schools have both the planning and equipment needed to respond when every second counts.