For Immediate Release

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Gloucester Health and Personnel Departments Begin CPR, AED and Nasal Narcan Training for City Employees

GLOUCESTER — Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken and Fire Chief Eric Smith are pleased to announce that the Gloucester Health and Personnel Departments, in collaboration with the Gloucester Fire Department, are providing free CPR, automated external defibrillator (AED) and nasal Narcan training for all interested city employees.

The first training session was at the City Hall Annex Building on Thursday, March 23. Fifteen Department of Public Works employees attended. Four additional trainings are scheduled for this spring at various city facilities: March 31 at the Cape Ann Transportation Authority building, May 1 at the library, May 11 at the CATA building and May 25 at City Hall.

Gloucester recently purchased several AEDs, which will be placed at City Hall, the CATA building and the senior center. DPW also has an AED available at its building.

“By training a critical mass of people in our city and having these AEDs available in many different locations, we will have a higher survival rate of people who have heart attacks in the city,” said Gloucester Health Director Karin Carroll. “Trained employees become assets on scene during an emergency situation.”

With the coordination of Public Health Nurse Kelley Ries, Gloucester Fire Department Public Safety Officer Lt. Dominic Barbagallo, and Department of Public Works employee Tom Nolan, the first CPR/AED/nasal Narcan training was a success. Attendees earned a two-year CPR certification from the American Red Cross, learned how to use the city’s new AED machines, and gained knowledge and skills on how to administer nasal Narcan to someone overdosing on opioids.

“The training the Gloucester Fire Department can provide to other departments is part of a citywide effort to improve our emergency response,” Chief Smith said. “Our goal is for city employees to be able to assist in emergency situations until public safety personnel arrive on scene.”

According to the American Heart Association, communities with comprehensive AED programs that include CPR training for rescuers have achieved survival rates of nearly 40 percent for cardiac arrest victims. Making AEDs more available to lay responders who are trained in their use could save even more lives. They estimate that improved access to AEDs could save 40,000 lives a year in the U.S. alone – the equivalent of a cure for breast cancer.

The CPR, AED and nasal Narcan training has evolved from the efforts of a Workplace Health and Safety committee established by Mayor Romeo Theken, to the Health Department, which works with the Fire Department to provide valuable, life-saving skills to employees.

“The City of Gloucester is committed to the health and safety of its residents and visitors,” Mayor Romeo Theken said. “I would encourage every employee who can to join the training sessions.

Gloucester employees who are interested in attending a training should contact their department supervisor to sign up.

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