As the Town of Old Lyme enters its 4th year of certification as a HEARTSafe Community by the State Department of Public Health (DPH), citizens and visitors can now view the newly installed road signs proudly proclaiming the award throughout town.

“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. “Old Lyme has demonstrated its commitment toward ensuring that its residents and visitors receive the early lifesaving response proven to increase the chances of survival…”

A HEARTSafe Community promotes and supports: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (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 community members and early advanced care.

First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder states, “Not only have most of our Town Hall employees received certification, but other organizations like the Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library and Lyme-Old Lyme High School (LOLHS) have endeavored to certify as many individuals as possible. I applaud all of their efforts on behalf of the citizens of Old Lyme.”

Emergency Medical Techincians (EMT) Colleen Atkinson and Doug Lo Presti, responsible for the training and organization of the town’s effort for the award, credit the Selectwoman’s dedication and commitment to the program for their training of nearly 800 rescuers in Old Lyme, far in excess of the state requirement. “The recent addition of five more defibrillators in our town greatly increases the odds that one will be available to a member of the public at large when needed”, said Lo Presti.

The two EMTs, also American Heart Association Instructors, state Emergency Medical Services Instructors and founders of Critical Skills Education & Training, will once again be teaching CPR with the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to the entire junior and senior classes at LOLHS in January. Atkinson noted that the result will produce hundreds of graduates who enter their communities knowing how to give a victim of Sudden Cardiac Arrest the best chance of survival.

With the renewal comes the commitment to continue to increase the number of CPR-trained community rescuers and AEDs throughout Old Lyme. Anyone interested on learning, renewing or sponsoring CPR or willing to install an AED in their place of business can contact the EMTs through the Selectwoman’s office in Old Lyme Town Hall at 860.434.1605 or call Critical Skills directly at 860-304-8471.