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News Rensselaer Employees Attend CPR Training Classes and Heart Awareness Programs HARTFORD, CONN – February is American Heart Month, and to recognize the importance of a healthy heart, Rensselaer at Hartford participated in several educational programs. Nearly 30% of Rensselaer employees completed the American Heart Association’s "CPR for Family and Friends" program. Instruction was provided by Robert Shaw, NREMT-P; Carlo Piacentini, Lt. Paramedic Firefighter; and Russ Ottesen, EMT; all of Hartford Hospital. The course covered life-threatening emergencies where the skills of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and the Heimlich maneuver could help save lives. Almost all of the departments at Rensselaer were represented in the training sessions, including participation by Alan C. Eckbreth, Ph.D., Vice President and Dean, Rensselaer at Hartford. The Service and Teamwork at Rensselaer (STAR) Committee covered a major portion of the course fee and, upon completion of the course, provided participants with certificates and their own CPR masks. The STAR Committee also sponsored a Brown-Bag Seminar with Paul D. Thompson, M.D., Director of the Preventive Cardiology Program and of Cardiovascular Research at Hartford Hospital, and Professor of Medicine at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Thompson delivered a fascinating presentation touching on all areas of cardiology and answering a wide range of questions the audience had about heart disease and prevention. He jokingly referred to his talk as, "Everything You Couldn’t Afford to Ask Your Cardiologist," and engaged the audience in a highly interactive discussion that served to be a valuable educational experience. The cafeteria at Rensselaer at Hartford also recognized American Heart Month by offering a discount on salads. The STAR Committee plans to segue the learning opportunities from February’s American Heart Month into March, and will focus on health and wellness topics. Another Brown-Bag Seminar is scheduled for March 20 with Mary Noon, a registered dietitian, American Dietetic Association, who is state certified. Noon is a Rensselaer alumna.
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