Is Your North Carolina School Ready for the Smart Heart Act?
Signed into law in July 2026, the Smart Heart Act requires every North Carolina public school to have a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) in place. Rescue Beats makes compliance simple — trained staff, placed AEDs, practice drills, and a written plan that checks every box.
What the Smart Heart Act Requires
A checklist every NC school must now meet
The law does more than put an AED on the wall. Each school must build and maintain a complete Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP). Here’s what that includes:
- A written Cardiac Emergency Response Plan — documented, maintained, and reviewed every year.
- A designated cardiac response team with clear protocols for activating it during an emergency.
- Annual CPR & AED training for key staff, including nurses and athletic supervisors.
- At least one AED per school in an accessible, unlocked location reachable within three minutes, with clear signage.
- Coordination with local EMS so the school’s plan integrates with the community’s emergency response.
- Annual practice drills and a yearly review to keep the plan current.
Read the full bill text — NC Senate Bill 278 (PDF) →
The Rescue Beats Method
School Rescue Ready™ — your 8-step roadmap
You don’t need another AED vendor. You need a process. School Rescue Ready™ is our step-by-step framework that takes your campus from unaware to fully compliant — and keeps it there. Every step maps to a Smart Heart Act requirement, so when you finish, your school is CERP-ready and audit-proof, not just equipped.
Understand
Know exactly what the Smart Heart Act requires of your specific campus.
Know the lawAssess
A free readiness review of what you have today versus what the law now requires.
Gap analysisBuild
Write your Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) — team, protocols, EMS coordination.
Written CERPPlace
Position AEDs for the three-minute rule — unlocked, accessible, clearly signed.
AED coverageTrain
Certify nurses, coaches & key staff in CPR and AED use, renewed every year.
Annual trainingDrill
Run the required annual cardiac emergency drill so your team responds on instinct.
Practice drillsMaintain
Keep every AED rescue-ready — pads, batteries, inspections, and signage.
Equipment readyRenew
Review the CERP each year with audit-ready records that prove compliance.
Annual reviewWho Must Comply
The mandate reaches nearly every campus
The Smart Heart Act applies broadly across North Carolina’s public education system. If you run any of the following, the requirement applies to you:
Not sure whether a specific school or program is covered? We’ll help you confirm your obligations at no cost.
in state funding to make AEDs more accessible on school campuses
in additional one-time funds to help schools buy AEDs and build their response plans
Funding is available now — pair it with a compliant program before the school year begins.
Don’t wait until the first bell rings
Getting a full Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) in place takes coordination — equipment, training, drills, and documentation. Start now and walk into the school year fully compliant.
Schedule a Free Compliance ReviewWhy This Is Personal to Us
We exist because trained people and an AED saved a life
In 2017, Rescue Beats co-founder Bill Amirault suffered a cardiac arrest at the finish line of the Key West Half Marathon. Three strangers with CPR training and an AED brought him back.
That’s the exact scenario the Smart Heart Act is built to prepare schools for — and it’s why we make sure no organization we serve is ever left unprepared.
“Every school should be ready for the moment we hope never comes. Now North Carolina law agrees — and we’re here to help you meet it.”
Bill & Becky Amirault — Co-Founders, Rescue Beats
Trusted Training Credentials
Certified through nationally recognized programs
“Understanding the Smart Heart Act” — a free 45-minute live session for NC school leaders, with live Q&A.
Free Download
The CERP-Ready Checklist for NC Schools
One page, every requirement. See exactly where your campus stands — and which boxes we can help you check before the 2026–27 school year.
It is on the way to your inbox.
Download it nowSmart Heart Act Guides
Learn more
Practical guides for North Carolina school leaders:
- Free templates & downloads (Resources hub)
- North Carolina school AED requirements
- AED grants & funding for NC schools
- How to build a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP)
- School AED placement guide (the 3-minute rule)
- School CPR & AED training requirements
- How to run a cardiac emergency drill
- AED maintenance for schools
Frequently Asked Questions
Smart Heart Act compliance, answered
What is the North Carolina Smart Heart Act?
The Smart Heart Act (NC Senate Bill 278) is a North Carolina law, signed in July 2026, that requires every public school to establish and maintain a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP). It also directs state funding to make automated external defibrillators (AEDs) more accessible on school campuses and strengthens emergency preparedness and response coordination. You can read the full bill text here.
When does my school have to be compliant?
The requirement begins with the 2026–27 school year. Because a complete Cardiac Emergency Response Plan involves equipment, staff training, drills, and documentation, most schools should begin planning during the summer to be ready before students return.
Which schools does the law apply to?
The Smart Heart Act applies broadly across North Carolina’s public education system, including traditional public schools, charter schools, and regional schools. If you’re unsure whether a specific school or program is covered, Rescue Beats can help you confirm your obligations.
What exactly does a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) require?
A compliant CERP includes a written plan, a designated response team with activation protocols, annual CPR and AED training for key staff, at least one AED placed in an accessible unlocked location reachable within three minutes with clear signage, coordination with local EMS, annual practice drills, and a yearly review to keep the plan current.
Is there funding to help schools pay for this?
Yes. The state budget includes $4 million to help make AEDs more accessible on school campuses, plus $2 million in additional one-time funds to help schools purchase AEDs and develop their response plans. Rescue Beats can help you build a program that makes the most of available funding.
Can Rescue Beats handle everything, or just the training?
We can handle the entire program end to end — writing your CERP, training and certifying staff, selecting and placing AEDs, maintaining equipment, running drills, and keeping your compliance documentation current. You can also choose individual services if you already have some pieces in place.
Get Started
Schedule a free Smart Heart Act compliance review
Tell us about your school or district and we’ll map out exactly what you need to be compliant — and how to get there before the school year begins.
- Call or Text(919) 372-9657
- Emailinfo@rescuebeatspro.com
- ServingRaleigh, Durham & the Triangle, NC
This page summarizes provisions of North Carolina’s Smart Heart Act for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Schools should confirm their specific obligations with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction or legal counsel.