(Avoca, IA) – Officials with the AHSTW Community School District report the District will host a “Sudden Cardiac Arrest” response drill, next month. The drill on April 17th at 11-a.m. is part of the District’s certification process through Project ADAM. During the drill, the district will collaborate with local first responders and a LifeFlight helicopter team to simulate an emergency response on the AHSTW campus. A certification team from the University of Iowa will be onsite to observe and evaluate the drill. Upon successful completion, AHSTW will be awarded Project ADAM certification.

According to Project ADAM, “Project ADAM was launched to help communities build the systems that give people their best chance of surviving Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Through this program, schools, sporting programs, and community sites can strengthen their readiness with the equipment, training, and response plans needed to act quickly in those first critical minutes.” The program has already contributed to saving lives across the country.

Currently, only 56 individual schools in Iowa hold this certification, representing approximately 3% of schools statewide. At this time, no school districts in Southwest Iowa are Project ADAM certified, making this a significant milestone for the region. AHSTW Director of Technology and School Safety Coordinator Ryan Smith, says “AHSTW believes this certification demonstrates the district’s commitment to preparedness, safety, and the ability to respond effectively in a life-threatening emergency.”

More information about Project ADAM can be found here: https://projectadam.com/About-Adam