Shakopee Public Schools Furthers Commitment to Cardiac Safety

District Slated to Become Minnesota's First Heart Safe Certified School with Project ADAM

Issued February 28, 2023

Through Shakopee Public School’s Center for Advanced Professional Studies Program (CAPS) at Shakopee High School and the Academies of Shakopee model (only one of two in the State), two students are working with the district’s Health Services Supervisor and Crisis & Safety Steering Committee to get all schools certified as Heart Safe Schools.  The district is slated to be the first in Minnesota to become Heart Safe certified with Project ADAM.

A Project ADAM Heart Safe School is one that has successfully implemented a quality sudden cardiac arrest program of awareness, training and effective emergency response.  These schools have AEDs in place and have a dedicated team made up of the school nurse and building staff who have been trained to quickly respond when a cardiac emergency may arise. 

Project ADAM affiliate Children’s Minnesota provides hands-on, local support to schools working on their cardiac arrest program.  Nathan Neis, RN, DNP and Dr. Andrew Schneider, MD and Medical Director of Children’s Minnesota are providing guidance and advice to Shakopee students as they work on getting all ten district schools certified.The Health Science Academy, within the Academies of Shakopee, is also supported by St. Francis Regional Medical Center as they serve as the Academy's main Champion/partner.

The certification also positively builds upon volunteer efforts that previously led to district-wide AEDs in the Shakopee school community. In the spring of 2018, a district-wide AED effort was initiated and has resulted in 54 AEDs being installed throughout the district, both inside the school buildings and onsite at outdoor fields. 42 of the AEDs noted have been donated by community members. The district worked directly with Advanced First Aid, Inc. to place the HeartSine 360P fully automatic AEDs throughout the district and continue to manage testing, training and maintenance efforts. 

On the last day of American Heart Month, news partner WCCO covered this effort during their Morning Show on February 28, 2023. Check out highlights of the news story on this page and stay tuned for the final certification celebration event slated for late spring/summer 2023. 

If you would like to donate to Shakopee’s AED initiative, donations (check) to Shakopee Project AED can be sent to 1200 Shakopee Town Square, Attention: Ed Zeimet/Project AED. If you're interested in helping support general AED needs, please contact Janni Hennes, community volunteer, below.  Any donation amount will help support required maintenance needs and funds are deposited into a dedicated account within the district budget. 

Volunteer Contact:

Janni Hennes 

952.456.1094 

rjhennes@aol.com

Click here to view additional details on the district's Project AED and community support.