Heart Safe Schools

The Appleton Area School District has successfully implemented a comprehensive CPR and AED program across all school buildings and offices to strengthen safety for students, staff, and visitors.

In partnership with Project ADAM and Children’s Wisconsin, the District has equipped schools with automated external defibrillators (AEDs), trained staff in CPR and AED use, and established cardiac emergency response plans to ensure schools are prepared to respond quickly to sudden cardiac arrest.

Through this work, all school buildings have earned the Heart Safe School designation, recognizing strong cardiac emergency preparedness through staff training, accessible AEDs, and practiced response plans. 

On any given day, roughly 20 percent of a community is on school grounds, making preparedness critical. By partnering with Project ADAM, the Appleton Area School District is helping ensure schools are trained, equipped, and ready to act during a sudden cardiac emergency—because when cardiac arrest occurs, every second counts.