The Lake Hamilton School District is committed to maintaining safe, prepared campuses for every student and staff member. As part of that commitment, schools across the district will conduct Code Blue drills over the coming week (September 8 - 11, 2026) in preparation for a visit from the Arkansas Children's Project ADAM – Arkansas Heart Safe Schools team on September 15 and 16, 2026.
Families and students should be aware that these are planned drills only and do not indicate an actual medical emergency on campus.
The practice drills will give school personnel an opportunity to rehearse the district's response to a sudden cardiac emergency, including communication, CPR response, retrieval and use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and coordination among designated responders. Practicing these procedures allows teams to identify areas for improvement before an actual emergency occurs.
What is Project ADAM?
Project ADAM, which stands for Automated Defibrillators in Adam's Memory, is a national nonprofit initiative focused on preventing sudden cardiac death through education, preparedness, collaboration, CPR training, and AED programs. Arkansas Children's Heart Institute serves as the program's Arkansas affiliate through Project ADAM – Arkansas Heart Safe Schools.
As part of the Heart Safe Schools process, schools develop cardiac emergency response teams and plans, maintain accessible AEDs, ensure appropriate CPR/AED training, and practice their response through cardiac emergency drills. Project ADAM's resources emphasize that these drills are an essential part of ensuring school personnel are prepared to respond quickly and effectively when every second matters.
On September 15 and 16, 2026, representatives from the Arkansas Children's Project ADAM team will be on Lake Hamilton campuses as the district continues working through the Heart Safe Schools process. The Code Blue drills being conducted beforehand will help our employees practice their responsibilities and prepare for those upcoming evaluations.
What Students and Families Should Know
Students may hear a Code Blue announcement or see staff members participating in emergency-response procedures during the upcoming drills. Again, these exercises are planned and are not the result of an actual medical emergency.
The purpose is simple: practice now so our employees are prepared to act quickly, confidently, and effectively if a real cardiac emergency ever occurs on one of our campuses.
The Lake Hamilton School District appreciates the partnership of Arkansas Children's and the Project ADAM team as we continue strengthening emergency preparedness throughout our district and working to provide the safest possible environment for our students and staff.
Families interested in learning more about the program can visit the Arkansas Children's Project ADAM – Arkansas Heart Safe Schools webpage.