Loud sirens, flashing lights, pulling off to the side to make way for emergency vechicles is something many have experienced before. Cardiac arrest and medical emergencies can happen to anyone at any time, so it is important for communities to be aware and have access to medical devices that could help save a life. 

Project Adam is an initiative designed to spread awareness to ensure communities, specifically public schools, have access to life saving automated external defibrillators (AEDs). With the goal of informing the public on the importance of fast access to these machines to increase the chance of survival, Project Adam was started in memory of Adam Lemel, a healthy and athletic teen who went into an unexpected cardiac arrest during a basketball game. Even with the use of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), if an AED had been in the building, Adam’s chances of survival could have been higher. Project Adam was started by his parents, Patty Lemel-Clanton and Joe Lemel, in memory of Adam to help prevent similar situations. 

AEDs are machines that analyze the heart’s rhythm, and through pads placed on the chest, can shock a person as needed to get them back to a stable rhythm. Used with or instead of CPR, AEDs can help increase the chance of survival.
Due to Project Adam spreading awareness of the importance of AEDs in the community, Woodgrove has AEDs both around and outside the school. Along with this, teachers like Jenkins carry a personal AED for practices like cross country that go off campus so that students still have easy access to life-saving equitment in case of a medical emergency.Mrs. Kathleen Jenkins, a physical education teacher and Woodgrove’s cross country coach, shared what it is like to bring the machine to cross country practices, saying, “It’s just in a small, easily carrying case, and I just sling it over my shoulder.”

Along with readily available medical equipment being located throughout the school, Woodgrove’s staff is trained on medical emergencies and how to do CPR and operate AEDs. Stephine Lovasz, a Woodgrove, school nurse and advocates the importance of training staff in case of a medical emergency, “You can never train too much…the more people trained, the better your chances are of being recognized for your symptoms and being responded to,” she explained

Drills are an important part of training to make sure certain staff members are fully prepared and confident to perform CPR or use AEDs. At least ten percent of school staff is required to participate in yearly drills, “I always say, you don’t practice until you get it right. You practice until you can’t get it wrong,” addressed Mark Wagner, Woodgrove’s assistant athletic trainer.

Recently, Woodgrove won the Safe School Heart Distinction Award. By no means, this was an easy goal to accomplish. Athletic trainer Paul Peterson and nurse Stephanie Lovazs had to complete a rigorous checklist to qualify as a heart safe school, with the extensive process taking over six months to complete. Lovasz feels though it is a challenge, it is also an accomplishment. “My athletic trainer and I had the privilege of working at the ground level to make this happen for our school,” Lovasz expressed. 

On March 24, 2025, Virginia Governor Glen Youngkin implemented a new law requiring all schools to establish their own cardiac emergency response plan (CERPs). According to the American Heart Association, having a CERP can increase cardiac arrest survival rates by 50% because it allows more trained staff to take action. “It’s vital to have AEDs available within a three minute window in order to save anybody that’s in cardiac arrest,” Peterson expressed.  CERP must include a cardiac emergency response team, emergency contact information for easy communication, and a cardiac emergency response protocol.  Although this may seem extensive, this is just a small part of the components that  needed to be Heart Safe School (HSS) certified. 

Thanks to Project Adam spreading awareness about the importance of AEDs and medical emergency preparation, Woodgrove has been made a safer place. By following the requirements to become a heart safe school, there are higher chances of survival for those who go into cardiac arrest. Mr. Wagner shared, “I think it’s nice that we promote it, that we’re going above and beyond the basic requirements to make sure that we show that we care for our people in our building.” Woodgrove receiving this award is the first step in spreading awareness locally on the importance of AEDs being accessible in public places to help save lives.