[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 83 (Thursday, June 14, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6321-S6322]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. FEINGOLD:
  S. 1041. A bill to establish a program for an information 
clearinghouse to increase public access to defibrillation in schools; 
to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I rise today with my colleague from 
Maine, Senator Collins, to introduce the Automatic Defibrillators in 
Adam's Memory Act, or the ADAM Act, which would help schools across 
America implement public access defibrillation programs.
  I am especially proud that the concept of this legislation came from 
my home state of Wisconsin, where a similar program has saved the lives 
of a number of students.
  Heart disease is not only a problem among adults. I recently learned 
the story of Adam Lemel, a 17-year-old high school student and a star 
basketball and tennis player in southeastern Wisconsin. Tragically, 
during a timeout while playing basketball at a neighboring Milwaukee 
high school, Adam suffered sudden cardiac arrest, and died before the 
paramedics arrived.
  The following November, a Milwaukee Technical High School football 
player died of Sudden Cardiac Arrest while playing basketball with his 
friends. And in April 2000, two more Milwaukee-area deaths were 
attributed to sudden cardiac arrest: a Marquette University senior and 
a visiting 12-year old from Illinois who was playing basketball.
  These stories are incredibly tragic. These young people had their 
whole lives before them, and could have been saved. In fact, we have 
seen a number of examples in Wisconsin where early CPR and access to 
defibrillation have saved lives.
  Seventy miles away from Milwaukee, a 14-year-old boy, collapsed while 
playing basketball. Within three minutes, the emergency team arrived 
and began CPR. Within five minutes of his collapse, the paramedics used 
an automated external defibrillator to jump start his heart. Not only 
has this young man survived, they have identified his father and 
brother to have the same heart condition. To prevent cardiac deaths, 
internal defibrillators were implanted in both men.
  I also recently met Heather Rahn who on March 19, was at a church 
concert in the gymnasium of Good Hope Christian Academy. She told her 
friends that her heart was racing, and

[[Page S6322]]

she felt nervous. In the middle of running across the gym, she 
collapsed on the ground from cardiac arrest. She was down for about 
three and a half minutes when an ambulance arrived, bringing a 
defibrillator that would save her life. It took two shocks to bring her 
back.
  These tragic stories help to underscore three issues. First, although 
cardiac arrest is most common among adults, it can occur at any age, 
even in apparently healthy children and adolescents. Second, early 
intervention is essential, a combination of CPR and use of AEDs can 
save lives. Third, some individuals who are at risk for sudden cardiac 
arrest, can be identified to prevent cardiac arrest.
  After Adam Lemel tragically suffered his cardiac arrest two years 
ago, his friend David Ellis joined forces with Children's Hospital of 
Wisconsin to initiate Project ADAM to: bring CPR training and public 
access defibrillation into schools, educate communities about 
preventing sudden cardiac deaths, and save lives.
  Today, Project ADAM has introduced AEDs into several Wisconsin 
schools, and has been a model for programs in Washington, Florida, 
Michigan and elsewhere.
  I had the chance to visit with Dave Ellis, Adam's parents, and the 
dedicated people at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, especially Karen 
Bauer and Dr. Stu Berger. And let me tell you, there are no better 
advocates for saving the lives of cardiac arrest victims. I want to 
commend them for their service, and efforts to save the lives of sudden 
cardiac arrest victims.
  I strongly believe that the Federal Government should support local 
efforts to equip more people in our communities, including younger 
generations, with the necessary skills to deal with life-threatening 
emergencies like cardiac arrest. And there is no better way to support 
local efforts than by following the lead of a successful local effort 
such as Project ADAM.
  Over two hundred twenty thousand Americans die each year of sudden 
cardiac arrest, including between 5000 and 7000 children. About 50,000 
of these victims lives could be saved each year if more people 
implemented the ``Chain of Survival,'' which includes an immediate call 
to 911, early CPR and defibrillation, and early advanced life support.
  According to the Centers for Disease Control, the number of sudden 
cardiac deaths of people between the ages of 15 and 34 years old has 
increased over 10 percent in the past 10 years. The research also shows 
that sudden cardiac death has increased by 30 percent in young women.
  Without any training, kids would never know what to do in the face of 
such an emergency.
  As a matter of fact, many adults wouldn't know what to do either. 
That lack of knowledge is a break in the chain of survival, but that 
break can be repaired through the right training. A number of 
localities have pushed for increased CPR training and public access to 
defibrillation in schools.
  The ADAM Act will help strengthen the Chain by establishing a 
national Project ADAM resource center. The center would provide schools 
with information to help them implement public access defibrillation 
programs.
  The ADAM Center would also provide support to CPR and AED training 
programs, and help foster new community partnerships among public and 
private organizations to promote public access to defibrillation in 
schools.
  Finally, the ADAM Act would create a way to track cardiac arrest 
among children and to conduct further research into this serious health 
threat.
  This clearinghouse responds to the growing number of schools that 
have the desire to set up a public access defibrillation program, but 
often don't know where to start.
  If the ADAM Act becomes law, schools across the country will have a 
place to turn as they work to establish public access to defibrillation 
programs in more schools across America. The Project ADAM resource 
center will help schools give victims of cardiac arrest a fighting 
chance.
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