Thanks in large part to Holland Rotary Clubs, Holland is HeartSafe.

The City of Holland has been designated a HeartSafe Community. A ceremony marking the occasion was celebrated on Tuesday afternoon, May 28th at Van Bragt Park with photographs near the new designated sign. HeartSafe is sponsored by Holland Fire Department, Holland Hospital, American Medical Response, Ottawa County Department of Public Health, the Ottawa County Central Dispatch Authority, Evergreen Commons, and Holland Rotary Charities. Two key sponsors are Lisa Cardillo and Rotarian John Shea, both local cardiac arrest survivors.
The work began in 2022 and the designation requires 15% of the community to be trained in compression CPR annually, establishing an organization to guide local efforts, and developing strategies to guide public awareness. The idea is to have trained citizens to be the first responders until professional medical responders can arrive. The first 2-3 minutes are crucial.
Two apps— Pulse Point Respond and Pulse Point AED—are available and active to notify citizens trained in CPR of a medical emergency nearby. Holland Rotary Clubs received at District 6290 matching grant of $4,200 for Pulse Point software .The clubs are committed to working with other community partners to expand the program in Ottawa County. An article was published on the front page of the Holland Sentinel 5-28-2024.
Mitchell Boatman
Holland Sentinel USA TODAY NETWORK
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Steve Stegman retired EMT who initiated HeartSafe and Firefighter Angela Lound who is the Team Leader of HeartSafe Holland |
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Rotarian John Shea with Jay Peters who saved John’s life with Compression CPR |
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Heart Attack Survivors Lisa Cardillo and Rotarian John Shea. |
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Left to Right: Rotarians John Shea, Andrew Bissonnette of Noon Club, Kent Fry of After Hours Club, and Steve Stegman. |