Is your school prepared for a cardiac emergency?
There are approximately 350,000 sudden cardiac deaths in the U.S. each year, equal to almost 1,000 every day. At least 600 to 1,000 of these sudden cardiac deaths occur in children or adolescents. Approximately 20 percent of a community is in its schools on any given day, including students, teachers, staff and family members. A focused effort on cardiac arrest preparedness in schools is critical to protecting our children and others in the school community.
What is Project ADAM?
Project ADAM Michigan is a program administered by University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital Congenital Heart Center to help prepare schools for sudden cardiac emergencies. The Project ADAM initiative provides schools with guidance and support on how to minimize the risk of sudden cardiac death in the school setting.
The need for public access defibrillation programs
One potentially reversible cause of sudden cardiac arrest is ventricular fibrillation (VF). During VF, the heart starts “ineffective quivering” and can no longer pump blood to the brain and other vital organs. A shock through the chest, which travels to the heart, can halt an abnormal, ineffective rhythm and enable a normal rhythm to resume. A shock delivered by an automatic external defibrillator (AED) within three to five minutes can save a life. Learn more about AEDs. Well-implemented defibrillation programs ensure the best chance of survival for victims of sudden cardiac arrest. In rural areas, the need for AEDs in schools becomes greater as the response time of emergency medical service is often longer than in urban areas. For each minute that passes as sudden cardiac arrest occurs, the chance of survival falls by 10 percent. With an AED on-site, school responders can immediately attempt to save a life.
Get started!
To connect your school with Project ADAM Michigan or for more information, contact the Project ADAM Michigan coordinator at [email protected]. We look forward to working with you on this life-saving initiative.