On Monday, March 17, both Brummitt and Jackson Elementary received a heart safe school designation from Project ADAM. Chesterton High School, Liberty and Westchester Intermediate/Middle School campuses received their designation earlier this school year. 

Project ADAM (Automated Defibrillators in Adam’s Memory) is a nationally recognized program dedicated to preventing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in schools.  Named in honor of Adam Lemel, a high school student who tragically lost his life to SCA, the initiative focuses on raising awareness, training staff, and providing schools with necessary tools to respond effectively to cardiac emergencies.  

CHS Nurse Brittany Smith coordinated the program at Brummitt and Jackson Elementary. The initiative was supported by the school district to be implemented throughout all Duneland schools in the next two years. Smith stated, “Implementing this initiative throughout the district promotes cardiac awareness and provides a strategic plan in the event of a cardiac emergency for Duneland’s staff, students, and community.” Nurse Smith reported, “We are currently ahead of schedule with our initiative and will have all of the district certified as heart safe schools, placing the district one full year ahead of the initial projected timeline.” Liberty, Bailly and Yost Elementary Schools are scheduled to conduct their heart safe school designation drills on May 5. 

New directional signs have been placed at both elementary campuses to guide visitors and staff to AED locations. Teams have been trained in cardiac awareness and staff will have ongoing education regarding sudden cardiac arrest.