Ledyard earns renewal as HEARTSafe community

Ledyard — The town has received recertification as a HEARTSafe designated community, granted by the Connecticut Department of Public Health in collaboration with the American Heart Association.

The three-year designation was effective Oct. 1, recognizing the town’s commitment to providing training, equipment and education to support heart health in town. Signs declaring the designation are on most of the town border signs.

Karen Goetchius, administrator supervisor of the Ledyard Regional Visiting Nurses Association, said the town has been a HEARTSafe community since 2006, when it became the second town in the state to receive the designation after Greenwich. She said the fact that almost every town is now a HEARTSafe community shows how far health awareness and education have gone.

To receive the designation, towns must have a certain number of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and people trained on how to use AEDs and CPR based on the population. Goetchius said the initial certification was in part thanks to Foxwoods having a number of AEDs on site. Nurses with the VNA and town employees receive training, and the VNA also offers classes for residents.

This year, the certification also included a community education component, including programs on heart disease, hypertension and other cardiac health issues.

“Ledyard is committed to a heart healthy community,” Goetchius said.