Making Wilton Safer for the Heart

Nancy Capelle was just 40-years-old when she suffered a heart . It’s no surprise that a mother and successful career woman, has been revaluating her life since then.

It also got her thinking: What could she do to make her community safer for heart attack victims?

“A whole world I never knew existed opened up… you realize like, the ambulance corps, they’re all volunteer. They’re not funded in anyway. That’s tremendous,” she said.

During her three-month hiatus from work, Capelle discovered a government program called HEARTSafe, already in use in dozens of towns around Connecticut. She quickly chose to become a “Champion” and is looking to support from Wilton officials and Wiltonians in general to incorporate the town into what she sees as an important program.

To become a HEARTSafe community, Wilton needs to have 10 percent of its municipal employees trained in CPR and Automated External Defibrillators (AED) methods, and requires 10 AEDs in public places according to the brochure.  Wilton, with a population of around 17,000, already has approximately 20 AEDs, according to the Wilton Emergency Services Department. 

Acceptance into the HEARTSafe program appears to be available at no cost to the community, according to Carolyn Torrella, the Regional Director of Communications for the American Heart Association. Towns only need to mail in an application found on their website.

If accepted into the program, Wilton would receive 10 road signs, a certificate, stickers for AED-equipped buildings, and a press release promoting Wilton as a HEARTSafe community. Some neighboring towns already in the program include Norwalk, Greenwich, Westport, and Ridgefield.

“Wilton should have that designation too—I don’t see any reason why it shouldn’t be,” said Capelle.

“Most communities have citizens trained in CPR/AED and the required number AEDs in public locations. They just need a Champion to gather the required documentation,” said Torella in an email to Patch.

To raise awareness for the program, there needs to be a designated HEARTSafe Champion. Capelle is also the Community Chairperson for Heartwalk in Fairfield County; her job is to rally support from local residents. For example, she will be setting up a table at the Wilton YMCA for visitors to register for the upcoming October Heartwalk. Cappelle has also been in talks with the local fire department, police department, emergency services department, and has dropped off literature at the Wilton Library.

As for her health, Capelle said she has recovered fully, but is grappling with career decisions.

“I’m doing really well. The damage has all healed—it’s more the psychological part. I ask myself, ‘What do I want to do?’” she said.

Capelle is the Associate Director of Medical Affairs at a major pharmaceutical company, a job that, while fulfilling, is also very stressful she said. She’s entertaining the idea of working exclusively on community projects and volunteering. 

“Some people can have a heart attack and go right back to what they were doing before. Some people it affects on a different level,” she said. “It’s even harder being a mother.” 

Whatever she decides to do, Wilton has its new HEARTSafe Champion. If it becomes a HEARTSafe community remains to be seen.