Cardiac emergencies are the leading cause of death in the United States and unfortunately the young are not excluded from this statistic. A focused effort on cardiac arrest preparedness in schools is critical to protecting our children and others in the community.
Project ADAM South Florida is committed to helping schools implement and sustain lifesaving training and education to school faculty and community organizations where young people are present.
What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)?
Sudden cardiac arrest is the result of an abrupt loss of heart function that occurs when the electrical system to the heart beats rapidly from a dangerously fast rhythm in the bottom chambers of the heart muscle. This rhythm becomes too fast and irregular to support enough oxygenated blood to the brain and body, resulting in a sudden loss of consciousness. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is necessary to support blood flow to the brain and vital organs until the electrical rhythm can be restored with use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), to prevent sudden cardiac death.
What is Project ADAM?
The Nicklaus Children's Heart Institute is proud to be an affiliate of Project ADAM®, a non-profit organization whose mission is to serve children and adolescents through educational, life-saving programs that help prevent sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).
This program provides schools and community organizations the education and tools to develop and sustain their SCA response programs. Clinicians from the Nicklaus Children's Heart Institute provide hands-on training and education to schools who wish to become a part of the Project ADAM program.
Program Highlights
As an affiliate of Project ADAM®, we provide schools and organizations:
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training/certifications for school staff, and coaches
- Training to ensure that staff responds quickly and efficiently to SCA event
- Practice drills to promote staff familiarity, rapid on site communication and practiced coordination with your team and local Emergency Medical Services
- Training on the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to provide rapid defibrillation in the event of sudden cardiac arrest
- Collaborate with staff on the development of an emergency response plan
Since becoming an affiliate of Project ADAM, Nicklaus Children's has been awarded the following honors:
- Miami Dade County Public Schools Proclamation Award - April 17, 2024
- Miami Dade County Public Schools Community Partners Superintendent Choice Award - April 29, 2025
- School District of Palm Beach County; Wellness Promotion Task Force—Health Champion Award - May 2, 2025
How to Become a Heart Safe School
Schools that have completed the Project ADAM training and Heart Safe School checklist, become eligible for a Heart Safe School certification. For more information on how to become a Heart Safe school, contact:
Project ADAM Namesake
Adam was a young athlete from Wisconsin who loved to play basketball and tennis. His life was cut short in an instant when he collapsed while playing basketball due to sudden cardiac arrest. His heart and soul lives on in the legacy of Project ADAM (Automated Defibrillators in Adam's Memory), which has reached schools across the country, and has been responsible for more than 200 lives saved.