A Heartbeat Restored, New Standard Set at McKenzie

FINN ROCK: The McKenzie River Community School has been officially recognized as a HEARTSafe School, becoming just the fourth in Oregon to receive the designation for its cardiac emergency preparedness.

The certification was formally awarded during a ceremony held on March 19, attended by representatives from HEARTSafe Springfield/Eugene, the Upper McKenzie Rural Fire Protection District, and local fire personnel, along with school staff and administrators.

The HEARTSafe designation, part of the Project ADAM initiative (Automatic Defribrilators in Adam’s Memory), recognizes schools that demonstrate comprehensive readiness to respond to sudden cardiac arrest – a condition that can strike without warning and requires immediate action to save lives.

To earn the certification, McKenzie established a formal Cardiac Emergency Response Plan, trained a dedicated team in CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) use, ensured AEDs are both accessible and maintained across campus,, and conducted emergency drills to prepare staff for a real-life response.

School officials said the recognition reflects months of work to strengthen safety systems, but is directly related to a deeply personal experience on campus.

Last October, a teacher collapsed in a school entryway after suffering cardiac arrest. Liz Muzzey, the school’s health services coordinator and a registered nurse, responded immediately. After directing staff to call 911, she began CPR and coordinated the use of a nearby AED.

Luckily, the teacher resumed breathing and regained consciousness as emergency responders arrived. She has since returned to the classroom.

School leaders emphasized that the outcome wasn’t just luck, but the result of preparation. Prior to the incident, Muzzey had identified that existing AEDs on campus were outdated and worked to secure new devices for each building. She also developed the school’s cardiac response plan, trained staff, and organized drills in coordination with HEARTSafe partners.

Officials say the HEARTSafe designation underscores a selected school’s commitment to ensuring that students, staff, and visitors are protected in the event of a cardiac emergency.