Project Adam prepares schools for cardiac emergencies in Nebraska

HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) – In 1999, 17-year-old Adam Lemel died unexpectedly of cardiac arrest at his Wisconsin high school. Now several facilities, including Children’s Nebraska, have joined “Project Adam” to help prevent a tragedy like this from happening again.

Adam at Children’s project coordinator Kim Castellano joined the initiative more than two years ago after leaving the school’s administration. The reason behind it because it’s now much closer to home than ever before.

“I was born with a congenital heart defect. I was born with a heart rate of 19. I was the first baby in Nebraska and the third in the country to receive a pacemaker,” Castellano said. “My passion is making sure children and adults have what they need to be healthy. To make sure we can save everyone from sudden cardiac arrest.”

Castellano’s heart is already exhausted and has been put on the transplant list. Having dealt with heart-related health issues throughout her life, Castellano wanted to share her experience with the project.

“I have always been lucky to have doctors and nurses who were willing to share my story with people and benefit from it,” Castellano said. “Just being able to go to the school and talk to them about what they can do to keep the school safe is something that is literally close to my heart.”

According to Children’s Nebraska, approximately 20% of the community is on school property every day. That’s why Dr. Matt Sorensen took over as the project’s medical director more than three years ago after his Georgia mentor told him about it. Now Dr. Sorensen wants to make sure every school is prepared and acts quickly when cardiac episodes occur.

“CPR is really just treading water until the problem is solved,” Dr. Sorensen said. “You are literally keeping another person’s heart beating for a moment. “Eventually the people doing CPR are going to be exhausted, so you need a team, you need help to make that happen.”

When it comes to heart-related events, it can happen to anyone.

“There have been some good studies that have shown that people of all ages are more susceptible to cardiac arrest,” Dr. Sorensen said. “The reason for these arrests may be different, you know, when you’re an adult, and certainly in your later years you worry about coronary heart disease or poor diet and bad cholesterol leading to blockages in the heart.”

For anyone interested in joining Project Adam, please click here Here.

Click here to subscribe to our daily KSNB Local4 digests and breaking news alerts delivered directly to your email inbox.