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Project ADAM

Helping schools save lives through awareness of sudden cardiac arrest

In November 2022 CHoR became the first and only Project ADAM affiliate in Virginia. This designation means a team at the hospital can grant the designation of “Project ADAM heart safe school” to any school in the state that meets the criteria to show its preparedness for responding to a sudden cardiac arrest on school grounds. Our role as a children’s hospital includes caring for families in our hospitals and clinics, as well as creating healthier communities outside our walls. Becoming a Project ADAM affiliate allows our team to share their expertise so others throughout the commonwealth stand ready to save lives. 

What is Project Adam

Project ADAM (Automated Defibrillation in Adam’s Memory) is a national non-profit committed to saving lives through advocacy, education, preparedness and collaboration. It was developed in memory of Wisconsin teen Adam Lemel, who suffered a sudden cardiac arrest, collapsed and died while playing basketball in 1999. Defibrillation with an automated external defibrillator could have saved his life. An AED is a sophisticated, yet easy to use device that can analyze the heart’s rhythm and automatically deliver an electrical shock when necessary to restore normal rhythm. In partnership with health care affiliates throughout the nation, Project ADAM helps schools and communities ensure they’re prepared to care for students, faculty, staff and visitors who may experience a sudden cardiac arrest like Adam’s.

Over the years, Project ADAM has helped save the lives of more than 200 youth and adults in schools. There are approximately 350,000 sudden cardiac arrests in the U.S. each year, about 90 percent of which are fatal. When you consider 20 percent of a community is in its schools most days – during educational time, sports and other extracurricular activities – many lives can be saved through access to AEDs and proper education and practice to address these medical emergencies when they arise.

Contact us to learn more about becoming a Project ADAM heart safe school 

Virginia school personnel and parents interested in their schools becoming heart safe designated can contact Dr. John Phillips, medical director or Lexi Stevens, program coordinator to learn more about getting started.

FREE services provided by our Project ADAM team

FREE services provided by our Project ADAM team

  • Hands-only CPR training for school personnel
  • AED trainings for school personnel
  • AED drills planning 
  • AED site assessment and budget planning
  • CPR and AED documentation logs 
  • Heart Safe School designation

Contact us to learn more
Benefits of becoming a Heart Safe School through our program

Benefits of becoming a Heart Safe School through our program

  • Save lives through sudden cardiac death education and planning 
  • Heart Safe School signage
  • Recognition on CHoR's Project Adam website
  • Ongoing education and support
  • Offered FREE of charge

 

Meet the team

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John R Phillips, MD
John Phillips MD Cardiology
Electrophysiology
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Alexis Stevens
Alexis Stevens Cardiology Read more