Westbrook Fire-Rescue Department has been newly designated a HeartSafe Community by Maine Emergency Medical Services and Maine Cardiovascular Health.
The department has met certain criteria that focus on helping to improve the cardiovascular health of Westbrook’s citizens and has taken steps to decrease death and disability associated with cardiovascular events. Some of the key components the department has completed to meet the designation are:
• Westbrook and its community partners offer CPR training to
community members.
• Cardiovascular-related education and awareness activities are
conducted in the community, especially to the higher risk residents.
• Emergency Response Vehicles (fire apparatus) are equipped with automated external defibrillators/monitor defibrillators.
• Placement of defibrillators throughout the community in public buildings and of places of large gathering.
• The department uses an Emergency Medical Dispatch system to answer the calls for help and provides the appropriate level of response given the emergency situation.
• Westbrook Fire-Rescue Department has an ongoing process to
evaluate and improve the “Chain of Survival” of citizens who have a cardiovascular-related emergency.
• The department has a staff of paramedics trained in EKG
interpretation.
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