HAMPSTEAD, N.C. — Pender County Schools (PCS) reached a significant milestone in ensuring the safety of its students with a mock cardiac emergency drill conducted at Topsail Middle (TMS) and South Topsail Elementary School (STES) in collaboration with Project Adam advisors.
"This initiative underscores our commitment to proactive safety measures," said Jacob Lawrence, principal of Topsail Middle School. "We are proud to be part of this pilot program and to work towards achieving the 'Heart Safe School' designation."
Kathryn Bates, principal of South Topsail Elementary School, echoed Lawrence's sentiments. "The safety and well-being of our students are always our top priorities," Bates stated. "Participating in initiatives like Project Adam reinforces our dedication to ensuring a safe learning environment for all."
The mock cardiac emergency drill kicked off at TMS at 2:45 p.m. followed by a similar drill at STES around 4:00 p.m. Successful completion of these drills will officially recognize both schools as "Heart Safe Schools."
Dr. Brad Breedlove, Superintendent of Pender County Schools, expressed his support for the initiative, saying, "Ensuring the safety and well-being of our students is paramount. We are proud of the efforts of STES and TMS in spearheading this initiative and look forward to extending these safety measures to all our school campuses."
Project ADAM, initiated in 1999 in Wisconsin after the tragic death of 17-year-old Adam Lemel, emphasizes the importance of immediate response to sudden cardiac arrest. PCS Project ADAM coordinator and STES school nurse Jamie Uhlman, along with TMS school nurse Jessica Chewning, administrators, designated staff members trained as first responders, parents, and the cardiology department at Duke University (Salim F. Idriss, MD, PhD-Program Director for Project Adam North Carolina, Danielle Sturkey, MSN, CPNP-PC-Program Coordinator for Project Adam North Carolina) played pivotal roles in bringing this project to life.
Parent Lesslie Duncan's advocacy, driven by her daughter Becca's fragile cardiac disorder, further underscores PCS's proactive approach to ensuring the safety and well-being of its students and staff.
"We are so thankful for all the staff members that willingly stepped up and went through first responder training, further supporting this initiative." said STES Nurse Jamie Uhlman. "PCS is composed of an incredible group of people who are dedicated to teamwork and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our community. Our hope is to bring light to the importance of Project ADAM to surrounding school systems and support them in achieving this added level of safety for their schools as well. "
PCS plans to extend this designation to the remainder of its school campuses before the start of the 2024-2025 school year.
