Salem City Schools has developed four Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs) — one for each school within their district. These plans, based upon the template provided by the American Heart Association, are specific to each individual school building in regard to the Cardiac Emergency Response Team (CERT) as well as the number and location of AEDs. With an enrollment population of approximately 2,000 students throughout the district (not counting educators and other staff), these plans will prepare the district in case of a cardiac emergency. Just as fire and tornado drills are held regularly, the staff/CERT at each school will plan to hold cardiac emergency drills to ensure students and staff are prepared to act in the case of an emergency. These CERPs also come on the heels of two new CPR kits that the association placed in Salem City Schools, thanks to local funding from the Salem Community Foundation. Pictured from left, Gabbi Roszman, community impact director for the American Heart Association in Northeast Ohio; Linda Thomas, school nurse for Salem City Schools; and Christina Dascenzo, board member for the American heart Association in Northeast Ohio and co-chair of the 2026 Tri-County Heart Ball. (Submitted photo)