As the district nurse for Van Buren Public Schools, I oversee and create medical care plans for students across our district of eight schools. My responsibilities include collaborating with parents, training staff, and responding to medical emergencies. One of the most impactful initiatives I’ve implemented is the creation of the Medical Emergency Response Teams (MERT) in each of our schools – a program I launched in 2019 to enhance student and staff safety.


What is MERT?

MERT, or the Medical Emergency Response Team, is a dedicated group of trained school personnel, including administrators, social workers, interventionists, secretaries, custodians, security guards, counselors, speech therapists, and teachers. Every MERT member is certified in CPR, First Aid, and AED use, ensuring a rapid and effective response to medical emergencies on campus.


Training and Preparedness

Each month, I meet with the MERT teams to review student medical needs and reinforce emergency response protocols. These sessions prepare staff to handle a wide range of medical crises, including:
Diabetic emergencies
Seizures
Asthma attacks
Cardiac arrest
Anaphylaxis
Other urgent health situations

During an emergency, each team member has a designated role, such as:
Retrieving the AED
Gathering the first aid kit, Narcan, and splint kit
Bringing the EpiPens
Printing student medical records for EMS
Meeting EMS at the entrance
Delivering student-specific emergency medications

While not all MERT activations require an EMS call, our teams are trained to assess each situation and determine when professional medical intervention is necessary.


MERT in Action

When a medical emergency occurs, an overhead announcement activates the MERT response. Students and staff recognize this signal and understand that a medical event is happening somewhere in the building. To facilitate a swift response, a "classroom hold" is initiated – students remain in their current classrooms but continue learning. This minimizes hallway congestion, allows EMS personnel to move efficiently and prevents students from witnessing potentially distressing incidents.


Supporting the School Community

An essential component of MERT is post-emergency follow-up. Social workers, counselors and administrators check in with affected students and staff, recognizing that witnessing a medical emergency can be traumatic. Providing emotional support ensures the well-being of all individuals involved is prioritized.

Additionally, I conduct a debriefing with the MERT team on the same day or the following morning. This allows us to review the incident, acknowledge successes and identify areas for improvement, ensuring we are always refining our response procedures.


MI HEARTSafe Schools Recognition

In addition to MERT, our district is committed to ensuring all schools meet the highest standards for cardiac emergency preparedness. So far, two of our schools – Belleville High School and McBride Middle School – have been recognized as MI HEARTSafe schools. My goal is to have all our schools achieve this recognition by next school year.

Being a MI HEARTSafe school means that a school has demonstrated readiness to respond to sudden cardiac emergencies. This includes having:
A written cardiac emergency response plan
An adequate number of staff trained in CPR and AED use
Readily accessible AEDs throughout the building
Emergency drills to practice response procedures

Achieving MI HEARTSafe status ensures our schools are equipped to handle cardiac emergencies effectively, further strengthening our district’s commitment to student and staff safety.


A Commitment to Safety

Whether or not a student has a medical condition, our MERT teams are always prepared to respond swiftly and effectively to any medical emergency. By equipping staff with critical skills, establishing clear protocols and fostering a culture of preparedness, we create a safer learning environment where students can focus on their education, knowing that help is always readily available.

At Van Buren Public Schools, the health and safety of our students and staff are paramount. Through MERT, we are taking proactive steps to ensure every medical emergency is met with confidence, competence and care.