How to Become a HeartSafe Community

JCMC EMS Heartsafe image

Heart Safe Community is a collaborative effort to reduce the number of deaths from sudden cardiac arrest, it’s also about communities taking a look at themselves and how prepared they are to respond to a cardiac arrest in their community.

The program is designed to encourage medium and large community organizations to have a specified number of staff trained to use the Automated External Defibrillation (AED), provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid. If no bystander CPR is provided, a victim’s chances of survival are reduced by 10 percent with every minute of delay until defibrillation. The cardiac arrest survival rate is only about 5 percent if a system for providing defibrillation is not present in a community

Organizations that register for Heart Safe Community will receive a site assessment, advice on setting up their AED plan and post event follow up if an AED is used. Community organizations that register forHeart Safe will be providing a safer environment for staff and customers

Burden of Heart Disease and Stroke in New Jersey:

  • Heart disease is the leading cause of death in New Jersey, accounting for 20,655 deaths or approximately 28% of the state’s death in 2005 (National Vital Statistic Report 2008; 56(10)). Rate about 216 deaths per 100,000 standard population.
  • Stroke is the third leading cause of death accounting for 3,614 deaths or approximately 5% of the state’s deaths in 2005. (National Vital Statistic Report 2008; 56(10)). Rate about 38 deaths per 100,000 standard population.

Average Number of Deaths per Day by Cause (2005):

The State of New Jersey reports 72,000 deaths, about 197 deaths per day

  • 57 die from Heart Disease
  • 47 die from Cancer
  • 10 die from Stroke
  • 9 die from Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease
  • 7 die from Unintentional Injuries
  • 7 die from Diabetes

According to the American Heart Association, over 75% of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) cases occur at work or home. About 95% of SCA victims die before they ever reach the hospital.

How can we solve this problem?

With a strong Chain of Survival (Early Access, Early CPR, Early AED, and Early Advance Care) in every workplace and community, more lives can be saved. By becoming a Heart Safe Community, we can be prepared.

Legislative bills that will impact Heart Safe Community

There are several legislative bills introduced in 2008 that will impact our project:

  1. New Jersey AB 543: establishes defibrillator grant program in DHSS for placement of defibrillators in senior citizen centers
  2. New Jersey AB 2105: allow corporation business tax credit for full cost of purchasing AED
  3. New Jersey AR 57: encourages boards of education to include CPR training as part of high school curriculum
  4. New Jersey AR 60: urges NY/NJ Port Authority to provide AEDs on every rapid transit train set
  5. New Jersey SB 1000: requires public and non public high schools to have person trained in CPR on site at all school athletic events and practice
  6. New Jersey SB 1044: establishes defibrillator grant program in DHSS for placement of defibrillators in senior citizen centers
  7. New Jersey SB 1236: “Janet Law” requires public and non public schools, recreational fields and youth camps to have defibrillation for youth athletic event, and public schools to train pupils in use thereof and in CPR
  8. New Jersey SB 1508: requires municipal police forces to have cardiac defibrillators; established minimum number of units for each municipality
  9. New Jersey SB 1534: requires public school districts to provide CPR training and certification as part of curriculum; requires DOE to provide CPR instructor training; requires certain teachers to obtain training in CPR instruction

Recommended Guidelines for Municipalities for Designation as a Heart Safe Community

  • Promote and Implement the placement of AEDs and First Aid Kits in public buildings, private buildings, schools and health clubs.
  • Offer CPR, First Aid and emergency training to all city/county employees.
  • Promote CPR, First Aid and emergency training as a requirement for High School graduation.
  • Promote CPR and First Aid training as a prerequisite for obtaining a license.
  • Implement Prevention Programs via Heart Safe Communities training in schools and in the workplace.
  • Partner with Insurance Companies or corporate entities to promote and fund CPR, First Aid and emergency training within the community.