136 Virginia schools designated as ‘heart safe’ through CHoR program

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- One hundred thirty-six Virginia schools have been designated as "heart safe" through a program from Children's Hospital of Richmond (CHoR) at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).

Project ADAM is a national non-profit featuring free programs to assist schools in making sure they are prepared to help individuals that might experience a sudden cardiac arrest event on campus.

The ADAM portion stands for Automated Defibrillation in Adam's Memory, and the organization was developed to honor the memory of Wisconsin teen Adam Lemel, who died after experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest while playing basketball in 1999.

The first and only Project ADAM affiliate in Virginia was launched at CHoR in 2022 by pediatric cardiologist and electrophysiologist John Phillips, M.D. -- the medical director of the program.

“Most sudden cardiac arrests that happen outside the hospital – in fact, approximately 90% – are fatal,” Phillips said. “Every minute matters, so with trained responders and proper equipment in place to address these emergencies promptly, we can lower this number significantly.” 

Automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, are portable medical devices that analyze heart rhythm and can administer an electric shock to restore a normal heart beat, are part of the necessary equipment.

There are 12 criteria that each school must meet to achieve a heart safe designation, including on-site AEDs, certification in CPR/AED cardiac emergency response and sudden cardiac arrest drills.

The full list of designated schools can be found here.

For more information about Project ADAM and its impact on schools and communities throughout Virginia, click here.