FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   Connecticut Department of Public Health

April 7, 2011                                                   Contact: William Gerrish

(860) 509-7270

HARTFORD – The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), in collaboration with the American Heart Association, announces that Avon has been designated a HEARTSafe Community.

“The HEARTSafe Communities program is designed to increase the awareness of the signs and symptoms of sudden cardiac events by ordinary citizens,” said DPH Commissioner Dr. Jewel Mullen. “Avon has demonstrated its commitment toward ensuring that its residents and visitors receive the early lifesaving response proven to increase the chances of survival for heart attack victims.”

DPH began the HEARTSafe Communities program to foster community environments that improve the survival odds for people suffering sudden cardiac events, such as cardiac arrests or heart attacks. The key to the program has been dubbed by the American Heart Association as the Chain of Survival. The Chain of Survival has four vital links:  early access to emergency care; early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); early defibrillation and early advanced care.

“The town of Avon is proud of the designation as a HEARTSafe community,” said Police Chief Mark Rinaldo.  “It is proof positive that we are well prepared to help persons suffering from sudden cardiac arrest.”

A HEARTSafe Community promotes and supports: CPR training in the community; public access to defibrillation through strategic placement of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for use by public safety professionals and other trained community members; and early advanced care.

Avon met the program requirements for public placement of AEDs, trained community residents, and equipped, staffed and trained emergency responders. In addition, Avon is planning on continuing to provide community CPR training programs and expand the availability of AEDs in public locations.

Municipalities wishing to obtain designation as a HEARTSafe Community can download an application from the State Department of Public Health website at: www.ct.gov/dph/hdspp or contact Gary St. Amand, Health Program Associate, Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program at gary.stamand@ct.gov or 860-509-7581.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health is the state’s leader in public health policy and advocacy with a mission to protect and promote the health and safety of the people of our state.  To contact the department, please visit its website at www.ct.gov/dph or call (860) 509-7270.

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