Bristol Township awarded Heart Safe School Designation from CHOP
Pictured from L to R: Amy Siefker, Assistant Emergency Management Coordinator, Bristol Township; Regina Jones, Coordinator of Health Services for BTSD; John Craig, Principal of Truman High School; Kathy Mahone, Certified School Nurse; Kelly McNeil, Certified School Nurse; Kevin Dippolito, Chief/Fire Marshal, Emergency Management Director, Bristol Township.
In the event of cardiac arrests, the district has had CODE BLUE teams with CPR-certified staff in every building for several years. However, to earn the Heart Safe School Designation, an annual drill needed to be performed in each building. The District collaborated with Kevin Dippolito, fire chief, fire marshal and emergency management director of Bristol Township, and his staff, to facilitate sudden cardiac emergency drills in each school.
“Building administrators partnered with our health staff to coordinate CODE BLUE drills, creating opportunities for us to identify areas for improvement and strengthen our skills,” said Regina Jones, coordinator of health service for the district. “Each school received a recognition banner to celebrate our ongoing commitment to protecting our students, staff, and community.”
The Heart Safe School Designation is valid for three years through June 2029, and then must be renewed. The designation is compliant with Senate Bill 375, Greg Moyer’s Law, which went into effect on May 13, 2026. The law requires all private and public schools and PIAA athletic venues to be equipped with AEDs, create a written Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) and conduct annual practice drills.