THOMASTON, Conn. – The town has been designated a HEARTSafe Community by the state health department and the American Heart Association. The town has defibrillators throughout and residents have been trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
"It means we are now going to have town folks start doing care immediately before EMS arriving," said Skip Gelati, a member of the volunteer ambulance corps. "It will be win for everyone." Gelati explained that when someone has a cardiac arrest there is a 6-minute window in which the chances of them being revived is quite high.
There are defibrillators in all of Thomaston's schools, town hall, in police cars and ambulances and in some churches. Gelati said that between 100 and 200 residents have been trained in their use and in CPR. Signs alerting the public of the distinction will be placed on roadways at all entrances to towns.
SOURCE: Waterbury Republican American