Project ADAM Sacramento | UC Davis Children's Hospital

Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death for student athletes, and the cause of more than 320,000 total sudden cardiac deaths in the United States every year. Since 20 percent of a community is in a school on any given day, a focus on cardiac emergency response preparedness in schools is critical. Every minute without cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation decreases a person’s chances of survival by 7 to 10 percent. 

It is not enough to simply have an automated external defibrillator (AED) in the building — having a documented plan, a designated and prepared response team, and a regularly practiced emergency response drill are critical to saving lives. Every second counts.

One in 300 youth has an undiagnosed heart condition that puts them at risk for sudden cardiac arrest. The Kyle J. Taylor Foundation has partnered with Project ADAM Sacramento to host free youth heart screenings for 12- to 25-year-olds to help identify youth who have an undiagnosed heart condition.

Project ADAM Sacramento is committed to helping schools implement and sustain a CPR and AED program so they can handle cardiac emergencies and save lives. We work with schools by providing education and support in the following areas:

• Increasing awareness of sudden cardiac arrest and its signs and symptoms
• Guidance in developing cardiac emergency response plans
• Assistance in getting training for CPR and AED use
• Guidance on carrying out regular cardiac emergency response drills