The Town of Fountain Hills has been recognized as a Heart Safe City by the Save Hearts in Arizona Registry & Education (SHARE).

A presentation was made at the June 4 Town Council meeting by a SHARE representative recognizing that Fountain Hills meets the criteria for a Heart Safe award.

Carol Gibbs, SHARE program education coordinator, presented the award and certificate to Mayor Linda Kavanagh.

The SHARE program promotes a “chain of survival” for heart patients that includes early access to care, early CPR, early defibrillation, early advanced care and post care.

The Heart Safe recognition is for Arizona communities that meet or exceed criteria for cardiac arrest preparedness.

Fountain Hills Fire Department Capt. Steve Boyer outlined Fire Department efforts to help achieve the recognition.

Boyer said they have been able to increase public awareness, provide for CPR training, provide for public access to Automated Electronic Defibrillators, emergency dispatchers trained to provide CPR instructions, EMS partnership with SHARE and provide for hospital cardiac referral or receiving center.

The town uses its local government access channel for public service announcements, as well as The Times newspaper. The School District makes announcements and there are community public safety events.

There are more than three dozen AED in public locations within town. There are 13 in town-owned public buildings, nine in School District buildings as well as numerous private locations including churches, businesses and fitness facilities.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office also has 12 units that are carried in patrol vehicles.

The SHARE program registry provides for medical oversight, AED inventory databases and AED event submittal reports.

The SHARE program was established in 2004, and since that time more than 1,400 lives have been saved in Arizona credited to the strength of the “chain of survival.”

One of those lives saved in Fountain Hills was Ed Lacy in 2010. Lacy was revived by an AED unit available when he and his wife Mary attended a Fountain Hills Theater production.

The save added two years to Lacy’s life. His wife and daughter, Anne, were present for the Heart Safe City Award to the town.