Article and photos by Urban Alliance staff.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women and is the primary cause of heart attacks in the United States. Every 43 seconds someone in the in the United States has a heart attack, and almost half of all deaths from heart attacks occur outside of a hospital. Responding quickly to a heart attack increases the chances of survival and reduces damage to the heart. And, the more community members who are trained to perform CPR and properly use an AED (automated external defibrillator), the safer our communities will be in the event of a health emergency.

On December 8, 25 people from seven local churches (Bible Way Temple NationCornerstone FoundationEbenezer Pentecostal ChurchGrace Worship Center ChurchNew Dimension Christian Center, New River Community Church, and Our Savior Lutheran Church) participated in a training for adult, child and infant CPR, AED and choking that was offered through UA’s Revitalize initiative. By becoming certified in these critical skills, they are making their ministries safer and helping their cities and towns maintain their designations as HEARTsafe communities, which are communities that have a number of citizens trained in CPR, public access to AEDs, designated first responders and additional supports in place.

Revitalize is an Urban Alliance initiative to help churches and ministry organizations reach and serve people with physical health needs so they are able to experience and maintain a lifestyle of wellness.

To learn more about how your church or ministry organization may participate in Revitalize, contact Angela Colantonio, Urban Alliance’s Director of Implementation, Health & Basic Needs Initiatives, at angela.colantonio@urbanalliance.com or 860.986.7328.


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