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Newtown, CT, USA
Newtown, CT, USA
Newtown, CT, USA
Newtown, CT, USA
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Hearts For Harmon-Giving The Gift Of CPR, Healthier Hearts

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Hearts For Harmon—

Giving The Gift Of CPR, Healthier Hearts

By Kendra Bobowick

Kneeling on the floor and bent forward, Sean Wallace laced his fingers together one hand over the other and pressed his palms against the mannequin’s chest. One, two, three … after a time he leaned down to breathe into its mouth.

Thanks to underwriting from Newtown Savings Bank, and with help from Laurie Veillette of Rescue Ropes LLC, a Newtown-based health and fire safety education firm and members of the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Sean and about two dozen other people learned the principles of basic CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) Sunday during the second annual Hearts for Harmon event. Held in the Alexandria Room at Edmond Town Hall, the annual event is hosted in memory of The Newtown Bee’s late sports editor Kim Harmon, who died in December 2007 after suffering a cardiovascular emergency.

“Critical before help arrives, CPR can help save lives,” was the message that reached residents including the O’Rourke family Sunday. Each with their own practice head-and-chest mannequin, Pat and Gerald O’Rourke and their daughter Michelle took the quick course supported by the volunteer instructors.

In its second year the Hearts for Harmon memorial health fair, hosted in part by the Newtown Health District, got serious about cardiovascular health with the intent to train individuals in CPR. The O’Rourkes, Sean, and a others pledged to train at least ten more people in the community, boosting the ranks of residents, family and friends with life-saving knowledge.

As the weather reached 60 degrees over the weekend, guests — often in short sleeves — walked through the Alexandria Room for a quick health tour. The visiting Nurses Association, Kevin’s Community Center, Parks and Recreation, Newtown Savings Bank, and other groups offered their health information and brochures. Danbury Hospital welcomed guests to a free heart health screening. Fitness Loft owner Cody Foss and nutritionist Stacia Helfand of Reality Bites spoke briefly, and local musician Daria Musk entertained the crowd playing two short sets.

Newtown Bee Associate Editor John Voket, the event’s co-organizer and Mr Harmon’s longtime friend, expressed surprise at the light turnout considering the current economy, and the fact that there were a number of free health care opportunities available for the public.

But he acknowledged that the event Sunday was competing with the best weather weekend of the year so far, which may have diverted potential attendees to outdoor activities.

“I thought we would see more people, especially members of the many school and rec sporting leagues that Kim covered so dedicatedly during his time with us here at The Bee,” Mr Voket said. “But as our exhibitors from Danbury Hospital and Newtown Savings Bank said to me, if any of the people who received health tips apply what they learned, or any of those who took the CPR training are positioned to save a life as a result, the event could be viewed as a monumental success.”

Ms Culbert, who co-chaired the event, pointed out that a free on-line resource being launched through The Bee’s website, with contributions from several fitness, wellness, and health care sources will carry the message of Hearts for Harmon to many more people in the community in the coming months.

“The program is called ‘100 Days to a Healthier Heart,’ and anybody can click on anytime to get a daily, heart healthy tip absolutely free,” the Health Director explained. “Whether people follow just one tip, all of them, or in any combination, applying the information is a sure way to improve your heart health.”

In an ongoing effort to educate residents, the “CPR Challenge” which was also launched at Sunday’s event will continue until all 100 training kits are assigned.

“The goal is to have the 100 people we train pledge to each train 10 more people before next year’s Hearts for Harmon, so we can have 1,000 people trained in CPR and the use of public automatic defibrillators on the street here in Newtown,” Ms Culbert said.

To view daily heart healthy tips, and learn when the next “CPR Challenge” session is scheduled, go to Newtownbee.com.

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