Turner USD 202 is now officially recognized as a Project ADAM “Heart Safe” district.

Project ADAM is a national initiative focused on preparing schools and communities to respond to sudden cardiac arrest. In these emergencies, survival depends on how quickly someone begins CPR and uses an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). For schools, preparedness is critical.

As Kaitlyn Forsythe, Project Adam Trainer from Children’s Mercy, explains, “Preparedness is the most powerful intervention we have, and Project ADAM makes it possible by ensuring schools are ready to save a life.”

Through collaboration with Children’s Mercy’s Project ADAM program, all eight Turner schools have completed the requirements necessary to earn Heart Safe designation. District leaders worked closely with Forsythe to ensure Turner’s Cardiac Emergency Response Plan met both Kansas legislative requirements and Project ADAM standards.

Christina Compton, Director of Special Services, helped lead the district’s efforts to implement the program. “Project ADAM is important because it helps schools and communities prepare for and respond quickly to sudden cardiac arrest, which can be life-threatening if not treated immediately,” she shared.

After completing the required steps and conducting district-wide drills, each building was officially designated a Heart Safe School. Turner is now one of fewer than five districts in Kansas to have certified the entire district under Project ADAM.

A Comprehensive Cardiac Emergency Response Plan

As part of the certification process, Turner developed a district-wide Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP). This plan outlines exactly how staff will respond if an individual experiences sudden cardiac arrest on school property.

The plan clearly defines roles and responsibilities, including who calls 911, who begins CPR, who retrieves the nearest AED, and how team members work together until first responders arrive. These protocols apply not only during the school day, but also during school-sponsored athletic practices, games, and activities.

Forsythe emphasized the urgency behind this work, noting that “Sudden cardiac arrest can strike anyone, at any time, including healthy individuals. There are often no warning signs, and survival depends on how quickly someone begins CPR and uses an AED.”

Each of Turner’s eight schools now has a designated Cardiac Emergency Response Team. These teams are coordinated by the building nurse and include staff members strategically selected from across the building, such as administrators, coaches, and teachers.

Team members are positioned throughout the school to ensure a rapid response.

Before the start of the school year, all administrators and identified team members were CPR and AED trained to ensure readiness. In addition, all Turner staff members have been educated on recognizing sudden cardiac arrest, locating AEDs in their building, and activating their school’s response team.

Jessica Balecotcha, the district’s head nurse, found the training to be beneficial. “This is such an important program for our district to include because it has helped educate staff, so they are more comfortable knowing how to respond and the steps you'd need to take in case a cardiac arrest occurs in our buildings.”

In addition to establishing teams, each building nurse completed a detailed checklist to meet Project ADAM standards. AED equipment and locations are checked monthly, CPR supplies are included in AED bags, and AED locations are clearly marked within each building.

Training and Ongoing Practice

Preparedness extends beyond planning. Once teams were trained, district leaders worked side-by-side with Children’s Mercy to conduct cardiac response drills across all buildings. These drills ensured that proper protocols and procedures were followed and gave staff the opportunity to practice responding in real time.

During these scenarios, building nurses serve as coordinators, observing and coaching team members to strengthen confidence and teamwork.

This structured approach ensures that responsibility does not fall on a single individual.

Balecotcha shared, “Each building only has one nurse, so this has also helped support our nurses in our district. We have more staff in the buildings trained to use the AEDs and are able to perform CPR if a nurse is not available or first on scene.”

Alignment with Kansas Law

In May 2024, Governor Laura Kelly signed Kansas Senate Bill 19 into law, strengthening cardiac emergency preparedness in schools across the state.

The legislation requires every Kansas school district to adopt a comprehensive Cardiac Emergency Response Plan.

Under the law, plans must include accessible AEDs, trained personnel, regular drills, and coordination with emergency medical services.

Turner’s work with Project ADAM not only meets these requirements but exceeds them by completing certification across all district buildings.

Earning Project ADAM Heart Safe designation represents another step in ensuring that Turner schools remain safe, prepared, and committed to protecting the well-being of students, staff, and the broader community.

Thank you to Children’s Mercy for their partnership on this important initiative!