Highcliff Elementary becomes first Heart Safe School in Allegheny County

North Hills School District’s Highcliff Elementary School has earned the distinction of becoming the first school in Allegheny County to be recognized as a Heart Safe School through Project ADAM, a national initiative dedicated to preventing sudden cardiac death in children and teens.

This designation affirms Highcliff’s commitment to maintaining a safe, prepared environment for students, staff, and visitors in the event of a cardiac emergency.

Project ADAM (Automated Defibrillators in Adam’s Memory) partners with schools nationwide to establish cardiac emergency response plans, train staff, and ensure AED (Automated External Defibrillator) readiness. By meeting this criteria, Highcliff has demonstrated exceptional leadership in emergency preparedness.

To achieve the Heart Safe School designation, Highcliff partnered with Ross/West View Emergency Medical Services (EMS), the American Heart Association and UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, the local Project ADAM affiliate.

Certified School Nurse Amanda Lemon and Principal Kristy Bilderback led the charge with support from Charles Reinert, training supervisor at Ross/WV EMS. Together, they developed a comprehensive cardiac emergency response plan, held multiple staff training sessions, and facilitated emergency drills to ensure a swift, effective response in the event of a cardiac arrest.

“While we are very fortunate to have a certified school nurse and AEDs in every building, creating an emergency response team and practicing drills ensures faster and more efficient CPR and AED use—ultimately leading to better outcomes,” said Mrs. Lemon.

Mrs. Lemon’s inspiration to pursue the Heart Safe designation came from a very personal place—her youngest son, Sebastian, has a heart condition and serves as a National Youth Ambassador for the American Heart Association.

“After his diagnosis, we became passionate about spreading awareness and education around heart health,” she said. “We realized a lot of people just aren’t prepared for a cardiac emergency.”

As an ambassador, Sebastian speaks at local events and Kid’s Heart Challenge assemblies to raise awareness, encourage self-advocacy, and promote CPR education. He most recently served as the Youth Caretaker of the Torch at the Pittsburgh Heart Ball.

Sebastian’s passion also inspired his mom to bring the Kid’s Heart Challenge back to Highcliff. During last month’s event, students met duck-themed characters representing different healthy habits, learned how the heart works, and even practiced checking their own pulse during health and PE classes.

Today, more than 20 Highcliff staff members are certified in CPR and AED use—training they chose to complete on their own time. Thanks to Ross/WV EMS, the training was offered at no cost.

Highcliff officially received its Heart Safe School designation on the morning of Thursday, April 3. Representatives from UPMC Children’s Hospital and Project ADAM were on site to observe as staff conducted a cardiac emergency drill. The scenario included locating an unresponsive individual, initiating the emergency response plan, beginning CPR, and delivering an AED shock. The goal is to deliver the shock within three minutes of activation—Highcliff did it in under one minute.

“Early recognition and rapid response can mean the difference between life and death,” said Principal Bilderback. “I’m incredibly proud of our staff for their dedication to this initiative and grateful we now have the tools and training to respond quickly and confidently in a crisis.”

This achievement highlights Highcliff Elementary School’s and the North Hills School District’s continued dedication to health and safety. The remaining schools in the district will begin working toward their own Heart Safe School designations next school year.

“Student safety is always our top priority,” said NHSD Superintendent Dr. Patrick Mannarino. “This designation reflects the dedication of our staff and community. We are incredibly proud of Highcliff for leading the way in Allegheny County and setting a powerful example for other schools.”

Learn more about Project ADAM and the Heart Safe School designation here.