The town formally received designation as a HEARTSafe Community Monday night with a presentation from the state Department of Public Health and members of the Simsbury Volunteer Ambulance Association.
"Simsbury has demonstrated its commitment toward ensuring that its residents and visitors receive the early lifesaving response proven to increase the changes of survival for heart attack victims," said Michele Connelly, HeartSafe coordinator for the state of Connecticut Department of Public Health.
As part of the effort, members of the Simsbury Volunteer Ambulance Association trained certified 79 people in CPR and 20 in the use of Automated External Defibrillators or AEDs during the three-year designation process. Those numbers represent some 39 more people than required for the designation.
"Hopefully this will send a message that we're here to help," said first selectman Mary Glassman as she accepted a certificate for the designation.
It's also not too late to become certified in the CPR or AED techniques. Anyone interested can contact ambulance association member Karin Stewart through the organization's web site or via svaa@simsburyems.com.
For more on the HEARTSafe program, click here.
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