Project ADAM

Project ADAM began in 1999 after the death of Adam Lemel, a 17-year-old Whitefish Bay, WI, high school student who collapsed and died while playing basketball. Adam suffered a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), in which ventricular fibrillation occurred, a condition in which the ventricles cannot pump blood into the body. Defibrillation, or an AED, could have saved his life.

Adam’s story along with similar sudden deaths of seemingly healthy youth launched nation and worldwide efforts to place AEDs accompanied with “Heart Safe” programs in schools in the early 2000’s.

Today, Project ADAM is a part of 15 children’s hospitals across the country supporting Heart Safe School initiatives. Our program outreach has been responsible for helping to save the lives of over 140 youth and adults in schools, making our mission just as critical as it was in 1999.