ATLANTIC HEALTH SYSTEM BRINGS PROJECT HEARTBEAT TO 60 LOCAL BOY Scouts

CEDAR KNOLLS, NJ – JUNE 28, 2017-

Do you know what to do in the event of a cardiac emergency? Thanks to an initiative between Atlantic Health System and the local Patriots’ Path Boy Scout Council, 60 more Scouts are now trained on how to do CPR or use an automated external defibrillator (AED) in the event of a cardiac emergency.

On Sunday, June 11 more than 60 local Scouts gathered at the Cedar Knolls Boy Scout service center to gain certification in the use of an AED, CPR, and first aid. The training was the first under Atlantic Health System’s new program—Project Heartbeat, a program developed to empower communities with the training, equipment, and confidence necessary to respond to cardiac emergencies and potentially save lives.

Project Heartbeat was launched after 29-year-old Haley Breen of Sparta, suffered a life-threatening cardiac emergency. Thanks to local first responders, she was saved using an AED. More on her story, and Project Heartbeat, can be found at haleystory.com.

"These trainings helped to make me more prepared and alert in case of any emergencies,” said Annesh Kakirde, a Scout from Parsippany. “Also, I can always be sure that I will be ready to perform CPR in any situation. I feel that I can respond well to any sort of emergency. "

All Scouts who participated in the program are from local Scouting units. Some participants were local Boy Scout camp staff. The camp staff aims to have more than 50% of their staff certified in AED, CPR, and first aid training.

In addition to the training, two AED’s were donated by Atlantic Health System to Mount Allamuchy Scout Reservation in Stanhope, NJ and Winnebago Scout Reservation in Rockaway, NJ.

For more information, please contact Bill SanFilippo, District Executive at (973) 765-9322 ext.227 or bill.sanfilippo@scouting.org.

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About Patriots’ Path Council

The Patriots’ Path Council, Boy Scouts of America (Council #358), is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preparing young people to make ethical choices over their lifetime by instilling in them the values of good character, citizenship and personal fitness. Each year, the council serves more than 16,000 youth members and 5,000 leaders in the counties of Morris, Somerset, Sussex, Union and parts of Middlesex, New Jersey. Some 400 local organizations have a Cub Scout pack, Boy Scout troop, Venturing crew, Varsity team or Explorer post as a part of their service to youth.