Wayne Central School District Named First Heart Safe School District in Wayne County Through Project
Wayne Central School District Named First Heart Safe School District in Wayne County Through Project ADAM (Ontario, NY April 29, 2026) Wayne Central School District proudly celebrates being designated a Heart Safe School District by Project ADAM, in partnership with Golisano Children's Hospital at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Wayne Central School District is the first school district in Wayne County to earn this honor.
Dr. Justin Smith and Nurse Practitioner Ashley Lekich from Golisano Children's Hospital presented the designation on Wednesday, April 29, marking Wayne Central School District as not only the first in Wayne County but also the first school district to receive this recognition through Golisano Children's Hospital under Project ADAM. Dr. Smith emphasized, “This is an amazing accomplishment. A heart safe community is really about building a space where people can recognize when someone is having a problem like sudden cardiac arrest. It’s about being able to have the equipment available and the team ready to manage that person effectively and efficiently to get them the care they need right away.”
Project ADAM, founded in 1999, is a national program partnering with children's hospitals to help schools prepare for sudden cardiac arrest. This designation improves safety and emergency response, addressing a leading cause of death in young athletes and a significant public health concern. Over 6,000 schools nationwide have earned Heart Safe designation through the program.
To earn the designation, Wayne Central School District developed a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan, formed trained cardiac response teams, conducted regular emergency drills, and placed and maintained Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) throughout district facilities.
This initiative was led by Travis Andrews, the Director of Safety and Security at Wayne Central School District. Andrews states, "Being named the first Heart Safe School District in Wayne County reflects who we are at Wayne, one family, looking out for one another. With our new extended family at Golisano Children's Hospital and Project ADAM, we’re ensuring that every family member who steps through our doors is safe, supported, and prepared because at Wayne, taking care of each other is simply what we do."
The Heart Safe School designation helps schools respond effectively to cardiac emergencies by promoting preparedness through training and access to AEDs. Wayne Central School District, as the first recipient in Wayne County, serves as a regional model for these lifesaving efforts.
The designation process was completed in partnership with Golisano Children's Hospital, a regional Project ADAM partner in New York State. Ashley Lekich noted, “Any community space can reach out – it can be a school, it can be a dance studio, it can be a sports organization. You can reach out for general information at Project_Adam@urmc.rochester.edu. We can touch base about what your space needs to build this cardiac response plan.”