Project ADAM Sacramento | UC Davis Children's Hospital

Pediatric Heart Center

Project ADAM Sacramento saves lives

The Project ADAM Sacramento program helps schools and communities prepare for sudden cardiac arrest emergencies.

Group of people holding a Project ADAM banner.
Project ADAM Sacramento logo
Overview

What is Project ADAM?

Project ADAM is a national, non-profit organization committed to saving lives through advocacy, education, preparedness and collaboration to prevent sudden cardiac death.

As a local affiliate, UC Davis Children’s Hospital carries that mission to Sacramento and the surrounding communities. Our Project ADAM Sacramento team focuses on prevention training and education for local schools and the community, helping them become Heart Safe Schools and supporting their efforts to be equipped and trained to respond to a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

Cardiac Emergency Preparedness

Why become a Heart Safe School?

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.

Photo of an AED mounted on wall in a school hallway
Community event

Free youth heart screening

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. Watch an interview with our Project ADAM coordinator.

Our next free youth heart screening will be held Sunday, April 14, 2024 at Folsom High School. Registration is now open. 

Watch the video
Two women in training for hands-on CPR and use of an AED
Become a Heart Safe School

Get support and training for your school

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
Find out how to become a Heart Safe School
Area schools participating in program

Several schools in Sacramento and the surrounding regions have participated in Project ADAM’s Heart Safe Schools program.

  • St. Hope Academy
  • St. Ignatius Elementary
  • Dideon Elementary
  • Da Vinci High School
  • Two Rivers Elementary
  • St. Roberts Elementary
  • Rio Americano High School
  • Cesar Chavez Elementary
  • Christian Brothers High School
  • Del Campo High School
  • Emerson Jr. High School
  • Da Vinci Junior High School
  • Da Vinci High School
  • Harvest Ridge Cooperative Charter School
  • Davis Senior High School
  • Patwin Elementary
  • Jesuit High School
  • Holy Rosary School
  • Holy Spirit Parish School
  • Holmes Jr. High School
  • Harper Jr. High School
  • San Juan High School
  • Christian Brothers High School
  • Birch Lane Elementary
  • Davis School for Independent Study
  • Fairfield Elementary
  • King High School
  • Korematsu Elementary
  • Montgomery Elementary
  • North Davis Elementary
  • Pioneer Elementary
  • Willett Elementary
Collage of different schools that have participated in the heart safe school program
Get in touch with usProgram information

Project ADAM Sacramento was established at UC Davis Children’s Hospital in 2015 and was the first California affiliate of Project ADAM. Our program team includes:

Rebecca McCormac, Project ADAM coordinator
rmccormac@ucdavis.edu

Heather Siefkes, M.D., M.S.C.I., Project ADAM medical director
hsiefkes@ucdavis.edu

Project ADAM Sacramento

c/o UC Davis Pediatric Heart Center
2315 Stockton Blvd.

Sacramento, CA 95817