All 12 Bryant Public Schools campuses, including Bryant Pre-K, have officially earned Heart Safe School designation through Project ADAM and Arkansas Children’s Hospital, marking a major milestone in ensuring preparedness for cardiac emergencies across the district.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) can strike without warning—and in such cases, every second counts. The best chance of saving a life occurs within the first four minutes. With that in mind, Bryant Public Schools has been working diligently toward certifying all schools, a process led by the district’s Nursing Department in partnership with local fire departments and EMS.
“Becoming a Heart Safe district means that every school is equipped and ready to respond in the event of a sudden cardiac emergency,” said Superintendent Karen Walters. “This work not only protects our students and staff but also anyone who walks through the doors of a Bryant school.”
What It Means to Be a Heart Safe School
The Project ADAM Heart Safe School designation is awarded to schools that successfully implement a comprehensive cardiac emergency response plan. Requirements include:
AED (Automated External Defibrillator) Equipment readily available on campus
(56 AED devices are located across the district, ensuring no location is more than two minutes from a lifesaving device)A trained Cardiac Emergency Response Team (CERT)
(CPR-AED certification for team members, updated every two years)Annual faculty and staff training in recognizing SCA signs and symptoms
At least one annual cardiac emergency response drill
Each school’s CERT includes a wide variety of school team members and is led by the school nurse. These teams have completed thorough training and live drill simulations to ensure they’re ready to act quickly and efficiently in a cardiac emergency.
Saving Lives Starts with Preparation
Project ADAM is a national initiative launched to establish life-saving systems across schools, sports programs, and community spaces. The program offers a blueprint for emergency planning, access to lifesaving equipment, and one- on-one consultation to help schools prepare for the unexpected.
“Project ADAM has saved lives,” said District Nursing Supervisor Mandy Horn, MSN, RN, CPN. “Now that all of our campuses are Heart Safe, we’ve dramatically increased the likelihood of saving lives in our community, too. We thank our local first responders—Bryant Fire Department, Salem Fire District, Shannon Hills Fire Department and Benton Fire Department and Pafford EMS—for their assistance in our training and certification.”
Recognition Across the District
Earlier in the process, schools such as Parkway Elementary, Bryant Middle, Hurricane Creek, Hill Farm, Bryant Elementary, and Bryant Pre-K were among the first to achieve certification. Davis Elementary, Bethel Middle School, Springhill Elementary, and Salem Elementary soon followed, completing all drills and requirements with the support of local emergency responders.
Today, the district proudly confirms that all Bryant Public Schools have earned Heart Safe designation, including Collegeville Elementary, Bryant Junior High and Bryant High School.
Looking Ahead
Bryant Public Schools will continue to maintain this life-saving designation by conducting regular training and drills, ensuring that staff remain prepared to act swiftly and effectively in an emergency.
For more information about Project ADAM and Heart Safe Schools, visit https://projectadam.com.