Project ADAM at Cook Children's Hosts Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness, Resource Events
October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month.
If you're ever in an emergency situation, the first step is to always call 911. Those minutes spent waiting on a medical professional are critical. If you understand how to do CPR and use an AED, you could be the difference between life and death while waiting for first responders to arrive and take over. 
The Project ADAM program at Cook Children's hosted a FREE hands-only CPR/AED demonstration on Tuesday, Oct. 22 at Cook Children's Medical Center - Prosper alongside special guests Prosper Fire Rescue and Police Department. Cook Children's also shared resources for drowning prevention and safe sleep education, free car seat checks, Build A Bear and Kona Ice!
Another event will be held at Cook Children's Medical Center - Fort Worth at the Atrium on Thursday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Join us to learn how to save a life! Kids, be sure to wear your Halloween costume! We look forward to seeing you!
Resources and Being Prepared
More than 700 schools in North Texas have partnered with the Project ADAM program at Cook Children’s to become a “Heart Safe” school. The program trains school staff members on CPR, how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED), and helps create an emergency plan. It also provides resources and support to become a Heart Safe school, which is
renewed every year through training and requirements. Project ADAM is a free resource for schools and the community.
The likelihood of sudden cardiac arrest in children and young athletes is known to be enhanced by athletic participation. On average, a seemingly healthy young person suffers a sudden cardiac arrest every three days in the U.S. and it's the leading cause of death in exercising young athletes.
Project ADAM reiterates the importance of being prepared for a cardiac emergency, especially in sports and school settings, with CPR and an AED.
Athletic personnel need to recognize the threat to young athletes and properly prepare for sudden cardiac arrest. Every school or organization that sponsors athletic activities should have an AED, trained coaches, and a written Emergency Action Plan.
Cardiac emergency preparedness training empowers people to use the AED device. Texas requires all schools to have an AED, but often people don’t know where it is located, how to use it in an emergency or rely solely on the school nurse to use the device.
Sign and symptoms of pediatric heart disease
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. SCA often occurs in active people with no history of heart conditions. In children, common causes are genetic, congenital or related to a sudden blow to the chest. If treated quickly, using an automated external defibrillator (AED), it is possible to restart the heart and increase the chances of survival.
Pediatric heart disease has warning signs and symptoms that can go unnoticed. It is important to recognize the following:
- Fainting or near-fainting during or after exercise, emotion or surprise
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Extreme fatigue associated with exercise
- Extreme shortness of breath associated with exercise
- Discomfort, pain or pressure in chest during or after exercise
- Skipping or racing heartbeats
- High blood pressure
- Congenital heart abnormality
- Family history of sudden death prior to age 50 or known heart abnormalities
Not all episodes of sudden cardiac arrest are preventable because many of the kids do not have symptoms until they have the episode. For this reason, secondary prevention strategies are important.
About Project ADAM
Project ADAM, which is nonprofit and nationwide, aims to educate school systems, nurses, coaches, trainers, parents and others about pediatric sudden cardiac death and to establish emergency programs to help provide a timely and lifesaving response as emergency medical services are on their way to an incident.
Project ADAM was started in 1999 after a 17-year-old Wisconsin student named Adam Lemel collapsed and died while playing basketball. His parents helped start the Project ADAM program at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in his memory. Cook Children’s is one of 35 hospitals and program sites providing free cardiac resources, including training and AED devices.
