PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) has announced that the City of East Providence is now a certified Rhode Island HeartSafe community. HeartSafe road signs and special decals for the community's rescue vehicles will be presented during tonight's City Council meeting at East Providence City Hall.
"I commend the City of East Providence for making the cardiovascular health of its citizens a priority," said Michael Fine, M.D., director of HEALTH. "Nearly 2,500 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day. HeartSafe communities help improve an individual's chances of survival by ensuring that first-responders and the community itself are better prepared to address cardiac emergencies."
HeartSafe communities must meet a number of criteria to earn the designation, including offering CPR classes, placing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) throughout the community and on emergency response vehicles, training first responders, creating effective emergency response plans for municipal and school buildings, and evaluating the community's response to cardiac emergencies.
East Providence is the fourth HeartSafe community in Rhode Island — the others are Westerly, Warwick and South Kingstown. The Rhode Island HeartSafe Community Program is a collaboration of HEALTH and the American Heart Association. The certification is valid for three years.
Call 222-5960 or visit www.health.ri.gov to learn more about how your community can earn the HeartSafe certification.
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