New England Community Strategies Council Meeting

On Thursday, April 3rd I attended one of the quarterly New England Community Strategies Council Meetings at the Massachusetts AHA office in Framingham. I met so many amazing people at the meeting; including a couple who lost their son to sudden cardiac arrest. Larry and Evelyn Pontbriant experienced a parent's worst nightmare when their precious 15 year old son collapsed last summer. Just thinking of their story brings tears to my eyes but I am so impressed with their perseverance to make sure this doesn't happen to other families. They are working diligently to raise AED awareness and to expand Good Samaritan Laws to cover provider of AED and Medical Direction provider. Attending this meeting was such an eye opener. I had the opportunity to discuss my goals with the council, the first being to make my hometown of Newburyport a HEARTsafe community.