As the 2026–27 school year begins, Minnesota schools are implementing mandatory Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs) under a law passed by the Minnesota Legislature in 2025. The American Heart Association supported the legislation and is working to ensure schools, families and communities understand the lifesaving importance of organized cardiac emergency preparedness.
The statewide requirement is intended to improve survival from sudden cardiac arrest at school by ensuring that staff know how to recognize a cardiac emergency and can initiate prompt, coordinated action.
The 2025 law requires each school to maintain a written plan that specifies how staff should recognize and respond to a cardiac emergency. Required elements noted in the law and emphasized by the American Heart Association include:
The law aims to standardize response procedures across districts so that actions are clear and rehearsed, reducing delays that can be fatal during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
According to the American Heart Association, more than 23,000 children younger than 18 experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital in the United States each year. The Association highlights that immediate CPR can double or triple a person’s chance of survival. When a practiced response plan is in place, survival rates can exceed 50%, demonstrating the potential impact of preparedness and rapid action.
These statistics underscore why the AHA and legislative supporters framed CERPs as a public health priority for school safety.
A CERP provides a clear, actionable blueprint for school staff and responders. Key components described by the Association include:
By detailing these elements in writing and rehearsing them, schools reduce hesitation and improve the speed and effectiveness of interventions when cardiac arrest occurs.
The need for CERPs extends beyond classrooms to athletics and extracurricular activities. The Minnesota State High School League reported that more than 230,000 Minnesota students participated in athletics during the past school year. The American Heart Association points out that cardiac arrest is the leading cause of sudden death in young athletes and most often occurs during or immediately after exercise.
Because many cardiac arrests in youth occur in athletic settings, ensuring plans cover practices, games and off-site events is critical. The inclusion of coaches and assistant coaches in training is a specific focus of ongoing advocacy.
Dr. Robin Germany, MD, American Heart Association Board President – Minnesota, emphasized the time-sensitive nature of cardiac arrest: “Every second matters when someone suffers a cardiac arrest. Cardiac Emergency Response Plans help schools prepare before an emergency happens so staff can respond quickly and confidently.”
Sen. Bonnie Westlin, the author and supporter of the legislation, said the requirement increases confidence among students, families and staff that schools are prepared, calling the law “about giving every child the best possible chance of survival.”
These statements reflect the rationale behind the law and the AHA’s support for its implementation.
While the American Heart Association is celebrating the statewide implementation of CERPs, it continues to advocate for additional measures to strengthen emergency preparedness. The AHA specifically recommends that all coaches and assistant coaches receive CPR and AED training so that adults who directly supervise student athletes are prepared to act immediately when cardiac arrest occurs.
The Association frames a written plan as a critical foundation and training for supervising adults as a complementary step to maximize survival chances.
For more information about cardiac emergency preparedness and the American Heart Association’s advocacy efforts in Minnesota, the Association directs readers to HeartPowered.org. The source article provides AHA contact information for media and public inquiries, noting the organization’s broader mission to advance lifesaving science and advocate for healthy communities.
The American Heart Association continues to promote awareness, training and policy measures designed to ensure that schools are equipped, staffed and practiced in responding to cardiac emergencies so that when seconds count, the chances of survival are maximized.