WICHITA, KANSAS — October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month, but any month is a great time to educate teachers and students about saving lives with automated external defibrillators through Kansas Project ADAM, a joint effort of KU School of Medicine-Wichita Medical Practice Association and KU Wichita Pediatrics.

ADAM (Automated Defibrillators in Adam's Memory) began in 1999 in Wisconsin after 17-year-old Adam Lemel collapsed and died while playing basketball. Adam suffered from ventricular fibrillation, where the heart cannot pump blood throughout the body, and could have been saved by an automated external defibrillator. His parents created the program to provide education, advocacy and preparedness. Kansas became a state affiliate of the nonprofit, which is credited with saving over 140 lives.

“Kansas Project ADAM is a great way to provide community service within the school districts,” said Aaron Ryan, BSN, RN, MBA, FACMPE, executive director of KU School of Medicine-Wichita Medical Practice Association and Kansas Project ADAM program coordinator. “Sometimes we are advocating with parents about AED placement in schools and dorms, sometimes we’re working with school districts to create heart safe policy and procedures, and other times we’re doing CPR trainings for an organization.”

Though the first schools earned the program’s Heart Safe Schools designation during the summer of 2019, COVID-19 interrupted other schools from participating and some of the first schools from renewing their designation. However, interest in reengaging is occurring.

Andover Public Schools were the first to receive the Heart Safe Schools designation and they are working to renew their designation.

"Now more than ever it is of utmost importance to understand the role of heart health in today's world," said Kellie Bamford, Andover Public Schools' lead nurse who oversees district health personnel and their training. "You cannot underestimate the need for preparation and readiness in the face of any cardiac arrest and especially the need for quick response. AEDs in the school setting allow for this quick response should the need arise, and save lives. Period. This program assists districts in developing and maintaining effective emergency responses and promotes a safe environment. I do not think you can take for granted the safety needs of our students and their families. We really appreciate being a part of this program!"

“The COVID-19 pandemic made it impossible to do outreach and educate the schools and community on recognition of sudden cardiac event and AED,” explained Nisha Agasthya, M.D., FAAP, the new Kansas Project ADAM medical director. “My goal is to engage the schools in Kansas, educate teachers and school nurses, and expand awareness on sudden cardiac events in children, which can improve survival and outcome of children that experience it.”

Agasthya, clinical assistant professor at KU School of Medicine-Wichita and a pediatric intensivist at Wesley Children’s Hospital, said one of her passions outside of caring for sick children in the ICU is to prevent cardiac arrest in them in the hospital. She hopes to use her position to shine a light on the recognition and prevention of sudden cardiac events in children.

Schools earning the Heart Safe designation complete a checklist encompassing training, awareness and emergency response. The list includes making sure AEDs are within two-to-three minutes' reach anywhere on campus, signage locating the devices, an on-site CPR-AED coordinator, a dedicated cardiac response team, and ensuring faculty and staff have been trained in signs of sudden cardiac arrest.

Ryan and Agasthya have mutual next steps. They want to identify a pipeline of residents, medical students and staff — building a team — who can enhance the efforts to connect with the community sharing the Kansas Project ADAM mission and sustain the program for the long term.

"It's a good thing to do for the kids, and it's a good way for the doctors to reach out," Ryan said.

To learn more, visit the Kansas Project ADAM website or contact Ryan at 316-293-3478 or aryan3@kumc.edu.