What Should Parents Ask Schools About Safety?

A new school year brings new routines, new teachers, and new questions. One worth asking is how your child’s school handles a medical emergency.

Ask About Allergy And EpiPen Policies

Food allergies can affect students in classrooms, cafeterias, field trips, sports, and after-school programs. Ask how the school plans for a severe allergic reaction and how quickly epinephrine can be reached if needed. You want to know whether the response is clear, practical, and understood by the people who may be nearby first. Simple, direct answers can give you more confidence in the school day.

• Does my child have a current written allergy emergency plan on file?

• Where are epinephrine auto-injectors stored during the school day?

• Who is trained to give epinephrine if the nurse is unavailable?

• Does the school keep stock epinephrine for a student having a first-time severe allergic reaction?

• How are teachers, substitutes, cafeteria staff, coaches, and trip chaperones informed about allergy needs?

Ask About The School’s Cardiac Response Plan

Schools should be able to explain how they respond if a student, staff member, or visitor has a sudden cardiac emergency. In Texas, the Landon Payton Act requires schools to strengthen cardiac emergency response planning, including team-based preparation and training for certain roles. For parents, the key point is simple. AEDs should be accessible, maintained, and ready to use.

• Does the campus have a written cardiac response plan?

• Where are the AEDs located across campus?

• How does staff activate the response team during a cardiac emergency?

• Who checks AED readiness, pads, batteries, and maintenance records?

• When was the last drill or practice for this type of emergency?

Ask Who Is Trained To Respond

Many parents assume every teacher is CPR certified, but Texas law does not require every teacher to hold CPR certification. That is why it is important to ask how many trained responders are available on campus and which roles are covered during the school day and school activities. You want to understand whether support is available beyond the nurse’s office. Hands-on training and clear coverage can make a real difference when time matters.

• How many staff members on this campus currently hold CPR and AED certification?

• Which roles are trained, such as nurses, coaches, PE staff, office staff, administrators, and teachers?

• Who can respond right away if the nurse is away from the building?

• Is a trained responder available during athletics, field trips, and after-school programs?

• How often do trained staff renew and practice their skills?

If your school or organization would like to discuss CPR, AED, First Aid, and emergency preparedness training, Any Day CPR Training brings training to your location throughout the United States.