PARK HILLS, Ky. – A northern Kentucky high school became the first school in Kentucky to earn a "Heart Safe School" designation by Project ADAM.

What You Need To Know

  • Project ADAM is a nationwide initiative that aims to save the lives of people who go into sudden cardiac arrest

  •  Notre Dame Academy in Park Hills became the first school in the state to become a "Heart Safe School" through Project ADAM

  • Medical staff helped Notre Dame achieve the distinction through a drill for faculty and staff, and later students

  • All freshmen at the school will now take CPR and AED training

Project ADAM is a nationwide initiative that aims to save the lives of people who go into sudden cardiac arrest.

Notre Dame Academy, an all-girls Catholic high school in Park Hills, can now claim the distinction of a “Heart Safe School.” Being a Heart Safe school means the school has an ample amount of AEDs on campus, which are properly spaced out with adequate signage. The school also had to create a cardiac emergency response team, and a comprehensive, formally written action plan.

It’s something the school started working on before Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Paycor Stadium, less than five miles away from Notre Dame Academy campus. The event shocked the world and led to an increased awareness about the importance of AEDs.

“I walk into a place now, and I’m kind of looking for that signage now,” said Notre Dame Academy Principal and Interim President Jack VonHandorf. “Where are these things? How close are they? Do I know how to operate them?”

VonHandorf said a school alumni who worked at Cincinnati Children’s Heart Institute knew the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center was looking for schools to take part in the Project ADAM Heart Safe program. Medical staff helped Notre Dame achieve the distinction through a drill for faculty and staff, and later students.

Now all freshmen will go through CPR and AED training.

“They had to think about it for a couple days, about what would happen. What would we have to do if something happened? Very different from a fire drill. If someone were to go down in a room, you may have to do something. You may have to call 9-1-1,” VonHandorf said. “I have confidence in our students that they would react properly in that situation.”

VonHandorf said even though his school is the first, he knows it won’t be the last. And it will be ready to help other schools when the time comes.

Gov. Andy Beshear (D) signed a bill requiring all schools to have at least one AED. The bill also requires at least three staff members and all coaches to be trained.

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