Wiscasset Ambulance Service has been designated as a Maine HeartSafe Community. The Maine HeartSafe Community program is a cooperative initiative of the Maine Emergency Medical Services office and the Maine Cardiovascular Health Council. The program recognizes local efforts made to provide strong cardiovascular-related emergency care for residents and visitors, and promotes partnership between local EMS services and community partners to improve overall cardiovascular health and awareness.
The Maine HeartSafe Community designation is based on what the American Heart Association calls the “chain of survival.” The four components of the chain of survival include early access to emergency care, early CPR, early defibrillation, and early advanced care. To receive a HeartSafe honor, cities and towns are awarded points called “heartbeats,” based on their ability to meet program criteria. Program criteria include:
- CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) training for community members
- Public education and awareness of the signs and symptoms of cardiac arrest, heart attack, and stroke
- EMS first-response vehicles equipped with AEDs
- Public AED placement and training
- Advanced life-support dispatched as primary or backup responders for all medical emergencies
- Ongoing evaluation of the community’s chain of survival
To learn more about Maine HeartSafe communities, to obtain resources, or to view a list of designated services, towns and cities, go to mainecardiohealth.org.
