GTMS is Now a Project Adam Heart Safe School!

Project Adam Lofo

March 2025

GTMS is now designated and recognized as a heart safe school through Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU. GTMS is only the 3rd middle school in Virginia that has achieved this accomplishment. Project Adam team at GTMS includes Stephanie Marshall, Heather Blythe, Arnica Walker, Erin Luck, Ericka Spratley, Kelly Chavis, Tina Shaul, Brandon Lilley, Jonathan Smith, and Kristina Parsons.

“Without everyone's hard work and dedication, it would not have been possible to make our school a safer place for all who enter,” said Stephanie Marshall, GTMS Nurse.

Adam’s Story:

When Adam was 17, he suffered Sudden Cardiac Arrest during a basketball game and collapsed on the court. A bystander administered CPR, but without a defibrillator (an AED), his heart couldn’t regain its normal rhythm. The ambulance arrived within eight minutes, but Adam needed an AED within 2-3 minutes to be given the best chance of survival.

Over 1000 people, members of the community, family, and friends, attended Adam’s funeral. How could this happen to a child in peak athletic condition at the prime of his high school years?

In the weeks that followed, Adam’s family learned more about this completely unexpected incident: That Sudden Cardiac Arrest can strike at any time to anyone. That all it would have taken to improve his chances of survival is the right equipment, with people prepared and knowledgeable about using it.

Adam always wanted to make a difference in the world, and this was their chance to keep that dream alive. When his family learned that he could have been saved with the right preparation and equipment, they founded Project ADAM (Automated Defibrillators in Adams Memory) to be sure everyone is given the best possible chance to survive.

ADAM: Automated Defibrillators in Adam’s Memory

How was GTMS able to be designated as a heart safe school?

In order to be recognized as a heart safe school, at least 12% of the building staff needs to be a part of the team.
All members of the team need to be CPR and AED certified.
Working AED's with direction signs should be posted and a mock drill completed in 3 minutes or less.
Paperwork needed to be submitted to Dr. Phillips at Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU informing him of all the steps that were taken, team members, certifications and timing of the mock drill.
GTMS was able to complete the mock drill, including recognizing cardiac arrest, calling for Project Adam Team, calling 911, initiating CPR and delivering a shock in 1 minute and 38 seconds!
Due to all the hard work, dedication, and the ability to run the mock drill within the allotted time, Dr. Phillips designated GTMS as a heart safe school.

Please see the video interview with GTMS Nurse Marshall for the Today@GTMS Out & About program:

https://youtu.be/MnQa0TBzZzk?feature=shared

Media Arts students interview GTMS staff and students for the Today@GTMS Out & About news segment. This episode of Today@GTMS Out & About is an interview with GTMS Nurse Stephanie Marshall! The intro song is inspired by each week's interview guest. This week's song is by Nurse Marshall's favorite singer Lauren Daigle.

Follow this channel to see all episodes of Today@GTMS Out & About!

https://youtube.com/@jessicatravis1465?feature=shared

Project Adam GTMS Staff

GTMS Project Adam1 - Front Row L-R: Nurse Stephanie Marshall, teacher Kelly Chavis, Principal Erin Luck, teacher Erika Spratley

Back Row L-R: administrative assistant Heather Blythe, bookkeeper Arnica Walker, teacher Tina Shaul, teacher Kristina Parsons, teacher Jonathan Smith, teacher Brandon Lilley

Project Adam GTMS Staff CPR
GTMS_CPR1 - GTMS teacher Jonathan Smith

GTMS Project Adam Staff CPR2

GTMS_CPR2 - GTMS teacher Kelly Chavis and bookkeeper Arnica Walker

GTMS CPR3

GTMS_CPR3 - GTMS teachers practice CPR

GTMS CPR4
GTMS_CPR4 - GTMS teacher Brandon Lilley

GTMS CPR5

GTMS_CPR5 - GTMS teachers Kelly Chavis and bookkeeper Arnica Walker

GTMS CPR6

GTMS_CPR6 - GTMS teacher Kelly Chavis, bookkeeper Arnica Walker, and teacher Tina Shaul

GTMS CPR7

GTMS_CPR7 - GTMS teachers Erika Spratley and Kelly Chavis

GTMS CPR8

GTMS_CPR8 - GTMS teachers Erika Spratley and Kelly Chavis

GTMS CPR9

GTMS_CPR9 - GTMS teachers Erika Spratley, Kristina Parsons and Brandon Lilley

GTMS CPR10

GTMS_CPR10 - GTMS teacher Tina Shaul

GTMS is Now a Project Adam Heart Safe School!

How was GTMS able to be designated as a heart safe school?

In order to be recognized as a heart safe school, at least 12% of the building staff needs to be a part of the team.

All members of the team need to be CPR and AED certified.

Working AED's with direction signs should be posted and a mock drill completed in 3 minutes or less.

Paperwork needed to be submitted to Dr. Phillips at Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU informing him of all the steps that were taken, team members, certifications and timing of the mock drill.

GTMS was able to complete the mock drill, including recognizing cardiac arrest, calling for Project Adam Team, calling 911, initiating CPR and delivering a shock in 1 minute and 38 seconds!

Due to all the hard work, dedication, and the ability to run the mock drill within the allotted time, Dr. Phillips designated GTMS as a heart safe school.