Heart Safe Community Designation and Community CPR Training

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the American Heart Association instituted the HeartSafe Communities program to help cities and towns improve their survival rate for sudden cardiac arrest. Towns are awarded points, called heartbeats, that determine if they qualify as a HeartSafe Community. The number of heartbeats necessary for designation depends on the community’s population. Heartbeats are awarded for the number of citizens in the town who have received C.P.R. training, community access to AEDs, and the number of first responder vehicles that are equipped with AEDs. The Town of Hanover was designated a Heart Safe Community in 2014 and continues to work toward improving the chances of survival for someone suffering a sudden cardiac arrest.

The Hanover Fire Department assists residents and community groups in attaining CPR certification through the American Heart Association. The Department provides community CPR training at various points throughout the year at a reduced cost for residents. Basic first aid and CPR classes are available, on-demand, for a fee. If you are interested in learning more about CPR training options, please contact our Community CPR Coordinator, Firefighter Mike Shaw, at michael.shaw@hanover-ma.gov or 781-826-3151, ext. 3143.