Oregon schools finish heart safety certification

Oregon Elementary School received the Project ADAM Heart Safe School designation on November 9, 2026.

This award completes a district-wide certification process for Oregon CUSD 220. With the addition of Oregon Elementary, the district is now the 22nd in Illinois to have both of its schools fully certified.

Oregon Junior/Senior High School earned its designation earlier this year in August. The district-wide status requires each school to maintain specific protocols for sudden cardiac arrest.

The certification standards include establishing a response plan and team. Schools must ensure automated external defibrillators are available and properly maintained. Staff undergo training in CPR and AED use. Emergency response drills are also required to test these procedures.

PJ Caposey, superintendent of Oregon CUSD 220, emphasized the role of staff in this effort. He stated that many educators perform tasks that are not immediately visible to the public but benefit the entire community. Caposey noted that while few enter education expecting to manage a cardiac emergency, preparation is essential when such a moment occurs.

"Nobody gets into education hoping they will have to respond to a cardiac emergency, but when that moment comes, hope is not a strategy; preparation is," Caposey said. "I am incredibly proud of the people who took ownership of this process and made our schools safer because of it."

The district credits the staff at Oregon Elementary for finalizing the requirements for the building. A news release stated that the designation extends preparation from the youngest students to graduating seniors. The district plans to sustain readiness through continued training, equipment maintenance, and regular drills.