Project ADAM is a national non-profit program intended to help schools in all communities build CPR-AED or Public Access Defibrillator programs. The designation is attained by schools upon successful implementation of a quality sudden cardiac arrest program of awareness, training, and effective emergency response to promote a Heart Safe environment for students, visitors, and staff as outlined within the Heart Safe School Checklist.
Project ADAM began in 1999 in Wisconsin after the death of Adam Lemel, who was just 17 years old when he collapsed and died while playing basketball. Adam suffered a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), in which ventricular fibrillation occurred, a condition in which the ventricles cannot pump blood into the body. Defibrillation, or an AED, could have saved his life. Adam’s parents, Patty and Joe, teamed up with Children’s Wisconsin to create Project ADAM.
“Our goal through Project Adam is to raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and implement lifesaving skills, such as CPR and AED usage, if needed. A benefit to being a Heart Safe School is becoming better prepared in responding to a sudden cardiac arrest, increasing the potential to save a life for a student, staff member, or visitor,” said Snyder Primary School Nurse, Leslie Garza BSN, RN. “To prepare for this designation, we have placed AED signage throughout the school to guide people in the direction of an available AED. A cardiac emergency response plan (CERP) has been reviewed and sent to our local EMS and placed throughout the school as well.
The school also has a designated team of CPR-certified staff to respond to a sudden cardiac arrest situation, each of who have a designated role in facilitating effective communication and immediate action. Garza said, “We will have annual trainings on signs and symptoms of SCA, and will conduct at least one annual cardiac emergency response drill to test our emergency plan and communication.”
Snyder ISD has 17 AEDs in the district, including athletic facilities, and staff trained throughout. The Project Adam designation takes the training a step further by providing a checklist of requirements to obtain recognition. The district hopes to expand Project Adam to other schools.
Part of the requirements includes having each team member certified in CPR-AED training. “This program allows us to extend the knowledge we already have and learn how to utilize it proficiently. This includes annual training on sudden cardiac arrest awareness, mock codes, and allows team members to discuss any strengths or weaknesses they’ve observed,” said Garza. “We want all team members to feel comfortable and confident in their roles, and Project Adam provides multiple resources to help navigate through this process.”
For more information on Project ADAM, visit: https://www.projectadam.com/