Children's Mercy, Oak Grove nurses present Project ADAM training to board; cite survival gains from AED readiness

Caitlin, a nurse from Children's Mercy Hospital, and Oak Grove school nurses presented the Project ADAM program to the Oak Grove R-VI Board of Education on March 11, describing the program's training and preparedness work for sudden cardiac arrest in schools.

"Project ADAM is a national program that comes into schools and helps schools be prepared for cardiac arrest," Caitlin told the board. She said school teams practice mock scenarios and run through simulations so staff know how to respond if a cardiac arrest occurs.

Caitlin cited research presented during the meeting that schools with these plans and teams can improve survival rates: "Studies have shown that schools who have, these plans in place in these teams, their survival rate of a cardiac arrest increases from 10 percent to 70 percent." She said cardiac arrest is rare but can occur suddenly "and there's no warning signs. So the best thing you can do is be prepared."

The presenter noted the district already has at least one automated external defibrillator (AED) available for quick access and said each participating school will receive a banner to display showing the school's participation and renewal status.

Caitlin also addressed the legal context: she said Project ADAM activities are not currently allowed under Missouri law as implemented now but that the presenter expects that to change if new legislation moves in the next session. The transcript records her saying, "In the state of Missouri, it's not allowed to do this, but but it will be coming, likely this next session." The board thanked the district nurses for their volunteer work on the program.

Ending: The presenter left banners for each school and encouraged annual renewal of participation and continued drills and team practice.