Bedford County Schools earn Heart Safe School recognition, first awarded in VA

Bedford County Public Schools (BCPS) has become the first school division in the Commonwealth to be designated as a Heart Safe School.

According to officials, this award is facilitated through Project ADAM at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).

To achieve Heart Safe School status, schools must have taken comprehensive steps to be ready in the event of sudden cardiac arrest. These preparations include training staff in CPR and AED use, maintaining on-site accessible defibrillators, and establishing clear emergency response plans.

Officials say that through months of dedication and coordination with the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU Project ADAM team, BCPS has ensured that every school is equipped to respond swiftly and confidently in a cardiac emergency.

“This designation is more than a title. It represents our shared commitment to keeping our students, staff, and community safe,” said Mr. Dupere, Superintendent of Bedford County Public Schools. “We are proud to know that every BCPS location is prepared to act in the moments that matter most.”

Project ADAM was created in memory of Wisconsin teen Adam Lemel, who suffered from sudden cardiac arrest while playing basketball for his high school team in 1999. Reportedly, a bystander administered CPR, and the ambulance arrived within eight minutes, but Adam needed defibrillation through an AED within two to three minutes to be given the best chance of survival. Unfortunately, officials say the coaches and staff lacked the tools and skills needed to save Adam’s life.

According to officials, shortly after his death, Adam’s parents teamed up with Children’s Wisconsin Hospital to create Project ADAM. Through Project ADAM, schools, sporting programs, and community sites can become “Heart Safe,” with the equipment and training needed to be prepared and respond during those first critical minutes of a sudden cardiac arrest. Project ADAM says it has helped save the lives of more than 200 youth and adults in schools.