HEARTSafe Community, a national preparedness program led by Citizen CPR Foundation, has recognized Palm Beach Gardens as the first city in the state of Florida to become HEARTSafe.
To become HEARTSafe, the community must fulfill 13 criteria. Some of these requirements include establishing a lead organization to guide and coordinate local efforts, training 15 percent of the community population every year, as well as developing and implementing strategies to improve public awareness and bystander intervention.
“We are honored and proud to be able to identify ourselves as a HEARTSafe Community,” says Ashley Terrana, District Captain, Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue. “Our dedication to improving the lives of our citizens has always been our motivation to receive this prestigious designation.”
“The HEARTSafe approach combines the talents from numerous agencies and tasks them each with making specific changes in their readiness with the goal of increasing their level of preparedness,” says Richard Shok, HEARTSafe Community Program Chair. “The result is a community which has ensured they are doing everything to prevent, respond to and learn from cardiac arrest emergencies.”