Joe Harrington, superintendent at Hurst-Euless-Bedford, practices hands-only CPR. Photo courtesy of The American Heart Association.
The American Heart Association is working with school districts to establish Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs). This is part of the Nation of Lifesavers initiative, which aims to turn bystanders into lifesavers and double the survival rate from cardiac arrest outside of hospitals.
In a move to champion more CERPs in Texas’ public schools, Joe Harrington, superintendent of Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District and co-chair of the Association’s Nation of Lifesavers Committee, prioritized the health and well-being of faculty and students by adopting a district-wide CERP. With more than 22,000 students, HEB ISD is the largest district in Texas to work with the American Heart Association to do this, a press release stated.
It is estimated around 23,000 children under the age of 18 experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital and 40 percent of those are sports-related. The survival rate of cardiac arrest can double or triple when CPR is performed immediately. Texas is one of the many states to require CPR as a graduation requirement, ensuring every year, more people are prepared to act in our communities. However, some states lack legislation requiring a comprehensive and regularly evaluated plan should a cardiac incident occur on campus – whether at an athletic event or a school facility.
“Having a plan that empowers people to act quickly and correctly during a cardiac emergency can save lives,” Harrington stated in the release. “We’re starting with HEB ISD and advocating for other districts across Texas to work with the American Heart Association and implement a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan.”
After joining the Association’s Tarrant County Board of Directors, Harrington recognized the importance of swift and effective action. He, along with Joy Keohane, his district coordinator of health services, and Mike Fielder, director of athletics, created a Cardiac Emergency Response Team. Keohane serves as the team coordinator and leads nurses and administrators at each of the 30 HEB ISD campuses to implement and annually reassess the CERP.
The custom plan for the district includes the following:
- Providing digital maps to local EMS for quick response times
- Showing related video content on the Texas Health Jumbotron during district football games
- Increasing the number of Automated External Defibrillators (AED) on campuses
- Working with the American Heart Association and the nonprofit Project Adam to keep the plan and equipment up to date
- Enhancing the curriculum to exceed the Texas CPR graduation requirements with multiple points of exposure to Hands-Only CPR in elementary and junior high schools
- Increasing the district’s annual participation in the Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge program – all 21 elementary schools are participating in Kids Heart Challenge this year, which is 70 percent district participation, up from 43 percent last school year
- Working with local organizations to support this plan, such as Texas Health HEB that will help with Hands-Only CPR training support
- Conducting CPR and AED drills with staff and students at all campuses
- Sharing the CERP with staff and conducting Hands-Only CPR demonstrations during district development days for those not already CPR and basic life-saving skill certified
Celina welcomed its first Whataburger. The popular burger chain opened a location yesterday on Preston Road.
The city also unveiled plans for its Downtown Center, which will include more parking and space for city operations, including a multi-floor library and rooftop community space.
The initial phase of the 115,245-square-foot, four-story parking garage will feature nearly 400 parking spaces.
The center itself will break ground after the garage is completed. It will include city offices and a 26,209-square-foot library with space for community programming.
The parking garage is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2025. The center is expected to be finished in the winter of 2026.
In other news, the city named Steve Walsh its new director of parks and recreation and celebrated the official opening of the new police headquarters.
Carrollton-based Motel 6, the economy lodging brand and Official Sponsor of Opening Acts, announced a songwriting contest to help one aspiring superstar the chance to take his or her music on the road.
“We recognize that touring is an important step for up-and-coming musical artists, yet it can be extremely costly to be on the road for an extended period of time,” stated Julie Arrowsmith, president and CEO of G6 Hospitality, parent company of Motel 6 and Studio 6.
Singers and bands are welcome to create a song about or inspired by Motel 6. Songs will be judged on criteria such as originality and storytelling. The top six songs will be selected by Motel 6, and the grand prize winner will be chosen by public vote.
The grand prize winner will receive a cash prize of $6,000 and 20 room nights at Motel 6 locations of their choice to help kickstart the next tour. The five runners-up also will receive six room nights each to support their own road trips. Musicians can enter for a chance to win at www.motel6songwriting.com/entry now through Sunday, Sept. 29, at 12 p.m. (PDT).
Yo Quiero! partnered with Dave Campbell’s Texas Football to celebrate some of the most dedicated figures in Texas high school football – team moms. Throughout the season, Rhome-based ¡Yo Quiero! will be honoring moms who go the extra mile to support their teams. Nominations for Team Mom of the Year can be submitted here: www.texasfootball.com/team-mom-appreciation-award/form.
Richardson Independent School District‘s J.J. Pearce High School is the first in the nation to produce the high school version of “Once Upon a One More Time,” a jukebox musical featuring the iconic hits of pop sensation Britney Spears.
This fairytale-inspired musical will transform the newly renovated 46,500-square-foot auditorium into a magical realm where classic storybook heroines discover the power of self-determination and rewrite their own happily ever afters. It features 23 of Spears’ biggest hits, including “Toxic,” “Oops!…I Did It Again,” and “…Baby One More Time.”
The show originally opened on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre in June 2023. Pearce’s show is 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20-21 and 2 p.m. Sept. 22. The school is on Coit Road.
- Tickets are $10-$20 and available at https://buy.ticketstothecity.com/venue.php?org_id=353.
This production marks Pearce’s fourth pilot with Music Theatre International and seventh overall.