Earlier this spring, Keota Schools was named a Heart Safe School through the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital and Project ADAM.

This process, which began in December of last year, was spearheaded by school nurse, Cathy Thalken. Thalken explained to KCII what this designation means for Keota Schools. “If a cardiac arrest happens, if your school has been designated as a Heart Safe School, we have a team that will be there within one minute, and a shock from the AED will be given within 2 minutes. So it’s quite a protocol and quite a procedure.”

With the help of school administrators and staff, Keota Schools completed an extensive checklist to become Heart Safe, which included getting CPR certification, creating an Emergency Action Plan, and performing a mock drill. The district also purchased three additional AED’s, or automated external defibrillators. When asked how it feels to achieve this goal, Thalken tells KCII, “It was quite an endeavor, but I’m very proud of it. I’m proud of the school”

Project ADAM was started in 1999 following the death of 17-year-old Adam Lemel. Lemel, a high school student from Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, passed away after suffering sudden cardiac arrest while playing basketball. An AED could have saved his life. By being named a Heart Safe School, Keota is now the 11th Iowa School with that designation.