Alison Ellison's Gift to the Schools of Georgia

A dedicated nurse for more than 40 years, Alison Ellison will retire this fall after decades of wholeheartedly caring for patients, advocating preventive care and educating healthcare providers.  We are deeply grateful for her service and would like to take a moment to thank Alison for her invaluable role within the 2004-2013 “life” of Project SAVE. 

In 2004, Alison was identified as the leader of the newly-formed Project SAVE Program (Sudden Cardiac Arrest, Awareness, Vision, Education), in order to provide a community resource for education, advocacy and awareness of sudden cardiac arrest.  Pediatric and young adult sudden cardiac arrest is uncommon but tragic, frequently caused by rare cardiac disorders which may be genetic/heritable. 

The primary goals for Project SAVE were 1) education and enhanced awareness about warning signs and symptoms that might be present in patients and families affected by these rare cardiac disorders predisposing to sudden cardiac arrest, and 2) widespread application of strategies to respond to sudden cardiac arrest including immediate recognition of sudden cardiac arrest, activation of the 911 EMS response, provision of effective bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the use of an automatic external defibrillator (AED).  With a background as a school nurse and her demonstrated passion for the subject, Alison was the perfect person to lead the new initiative. 

During her time as Project SAVE Coordinator, Alison became involved with parents and families who have experienced pediatric SCA, and also the Parent Heart Watch organization, the Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome Foundation, and the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, nationally.  She developed relationships with providers throughout the state and worked closely with the Georgia High School Association, the Georgia School Nurse Association, the American Heart Association Chain of Survival, the American Red Cross, and recently with the Atlanta Track Club to increase awareness about athletic SCD and emergency response. 

Under Alison's leadership and hands-on training, 40 out of 70 sudden cardiac arrests in GA schools have resulted in survival. That is a remarkable number of saves, because published data generally reports a less than 5-10% survival after a SCA.  In 2012 alone, there were five SCA saves in GA schools; all of these schools were Project SAVE schools.

Through Alison's efforts, Project SAVE has touched all 2,246 schools in Georgia, which covers 1,633,596 students now having access to SCA education. Project SAVE has recognized 942 schools (39% of all GA schools) as HeartSafe schools since early 2005.  These schools are in 59/180 (33%) school districts in Georgia and 39 private schools.  Project SAVE has trained 823 AHA CPR instructors in GA school districts and private schools.  Personally, Alison has trained over 1,200 school staff in Cobb County, where she lives, and 200 in other districts or private schools.

The success of Project SAVE is directly attributable to Alison’s tireless efforts and passion.  She is an educated and gracious “giver” of her knowledge and time.  Several Georgia residents, adults and children, are now alive as a result of her efforts through the Project SAVE HeartSafe school program, and more will follow in the future as a result of the foundation which she has laid.  

Submitted on behalf of Robert Campbell, MD, Chief of Cardiac Services, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta