Little Rock School District launches the “Project Adam” exercise for heart-safe schools.

Little Rock, Arkansas – A parent cannot monitor their child’s behavior or safety for the majority of the day. The staff and teachers are in charge of the duty.

Jacquelin Mceuen, LRSD Health Services Director says, “it’s extremely important for our staff and student and anyone who comes onto our campuses to know they are walking into a cardiac-safe school.”

The Little Rock School District is working to “Project Adam-certify” each of its institutions.

When Adam Lemel, then 17 years old, went into cardiac arrest during a basketball game in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, Project Adam was born.

AEDs, or automatic external defibrillators, could have prevented his death, claims ProjectAdam.com.

When the heart suddenly stops beating, it is known as a sudden cardiac arrest, and research has shown that utilizing an AED minutes after a cardiac arrest can significantly increase survival rates.

Under Project Adam, LRSD is collaborating with Arkansas Children’s Hospital, MEMS, and The Rock Fire Department to ensure that there are several staff that are CPR and AED qualified.

“The school nurses sometimes are the only medical professional on campus. It’s all kind of relying on one person. So, building a team is what we call a force multiplier,” Charles Wooley with the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Heart Institute said.

Don Roberts Elementary is the first school in the state to test Project Adam, according to LRSD.

“When I can see that 20 plus staff members in our building know exactly what to do in a quick and efficient way to meet the needs of a student that has an emergency, a staff member, or a community member that’s coming to visit on campus, you can put a price tag on that,” said Steven Helmick, Principal of Don Roberts Elementary.

By May, according to LRSD, all of its schools will be CRP and AED certified.