Pecatonica Community Middle School is proud to announce that it has been officially recognized as a Project ADAM Heart Safe School. This prestigious designation is awarded to schools that have successfully implemented a comprehensive sudden cardiac arrest program, prioritizing awareness, training, and effective emergency response to create a Heart Safe environment for all students, staff, and visitors.
To earn this distinction, Pecatonica Community Middle School followed Project ADAM's checklist of best practices, which includes establishing a school cardiac emergency response plan, creating an emergency response team, placing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in accessible locations throughout the school, training staff in CPR and AED use, and conducting sudden cardiac arrest emergency response drills.
"I am proud of our staff members at the middle School who volunteered to be part of “The Heart Team”. These staff members will report and assist with any medical emergency that may occur in our building. "It’s comforting to know that we are well equipped to save a life in the event of a sudden cardiac emergency at our middle school." Andrea McGrew, Certified School Nurse said.
Mrs. McGrew along with Mr. King, School Principal, worked towards the Heart Safe School distinction this past school year. Over the past 23 years, Mrs. McGrew has expanded the district’s medical emergency preparation by installing additional AEDs in all three buildings, equipping the health offices with Narcan and Epi-Pens, and offering frequent CPR courses to staff and coaches.
“The safety of our students and staff is something I take great honor in playing a role in,” McGrew said. “I am excited to continue developing our staff and student education regarding sudden cardiac arrest and AED use.” Mrs. McGrew plans on working with the other 2 buildings in the district to earn the Heart Safe Schools designations as well.
Project ADAM is a national nonprofit organization that partners with schools to establish sustainable sudden cardiac arrest response programs. Through their Heart Safe School initiative, they provide resources, training, and support to help schools like Pecatonica Community Middle School create a safer environment for all.