--4/5/14 An overview of Connecticut law on Automated External Defibrillators can be found at http://www.cga.ct.gov/2011/rpt/2011-R-0468.htm.
--4/5/14 Approved June 15, 2012, Public Act No. 12-198 (Substitute House Bill 5348), among other issues, states that “the State Board of Education shall make available curriculum materials and such other materials as may assist local and regional boards of ed in developing instructional programs pursuant to this section. The State Board of Ed, within available appropriations and utilizing available resource materials, shall assist and encourage local and regional boards of ed to include (among others) (7) training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of automatic (automated) external defibrillators”.
–4/5/14 As of 3/31/14, 86 AEDs have been donated to Eastern Connecticut schools and athletic fields. Two AEDs were provided to the Norwich Police Department in July of 2013, one for a squad car and one in the Police Department Lobby. The East Lyme High School Athletic Fields received an AED in October of 2012 and Flanders Elementary School received their AED in August of 2012. The Bacon Academy Athletic Fields were a recipient of one AED in September of 2012 and the Stafford School System received an AED for St. Edward’s School in Stafford Springs in July of 2012. Two schools took advantage of $1000 grants to aid in paying for replacement batteries and electrodes.
--4/5/2014 Sunday, May 19th, 2013 was the day of the 6th Annual Larry Pontbriant Memorial 5K Run. Westminster Tool of Plainfield was our corporate sponsor. 252 participated and luckily the rain held off until after the race. The same could not be said for the after-race BBQ but no food was left behind. As in all past years, 2 children’s runs preceded the 5K.
--The 5th Annual Larry Pontbriant Memorial Tennis Tournament was a very successful event on August 4th, 2012, even though the weather was particularly hot and humid. Hats off to the participants!
--The 5th Annual Larry Pontbriant Memorial Run was held April 29th, 2012 on a magnificent day. 306 runners, walkers and strollers participated on the 5K course.
--For Legislative Session 2012 at the Connecticut General Assembly, HB 5348, among other issues, sought to include CPR and AED training in the public school curriculum. As of 3/30/12, the bill had Joint Favorable Action from the Public Health Committee and was filed with the Legislative Commissioner’s Office.
--Since the start of the Larry Pontbriant Athletic Safety Fund, the 80th AED has been placed as of the end of March 2012, thanks to the generosity of all of our donors, in particular Backus Hospital, Norwich Free Academy, and Larry’s friends and family. The most recent donations were made to East Lyme Middle School, the New London County 4-H Camp in North Franklin, Nathan Hale Elementary School in New London, Montville Youth Football and the Town of Montville Gym at the Town Hall.
--The 4th Annual Larry Pontbriant Memorial Tennis Tournament was held on August 6th, 2011 in Stonington, CT. The success of this tournament and the hard work of its organizer allowed Larry’s Fund to donate another AED and a half. Many Thanks!
--The 4th Annual Larry Pontbriant Memorial Run on May 22, 2011 at Norwich Free Academy in Norwich, CT, was a great success, drawing 429 runners, walkers and strollers, far surpassing 2010’s Run of approximately 260 participants. Prior to the start of the Run, the NFA Class of 2010, Larry’s graduating class, dedicated a beautiful memorial rock at the head of the football field (and end of the run) to the memory of Larry and his spirit. The inscription reads:
Donated by the Class of 2010
In Memory of
Larry "Superman" Pontbriant
May his passion for sports and life
be felt by all who pass
--As of May 2011, the Larry Pontbriant Athletic Safety Fund, through the generosity of donors, has placed 74 AEDs in schools and on athletic fields, 13 of those since last May.
--State of Connecticut Department of Public Health releases their DVD on the HEARTSafe Program, February, 2011. Included in the DVD are two public service announcements and a 30 minute overview of the HEARTSafe Program and frequently asked questions. Sudden Cardiac Arrest survivors and victim’s families are interviewed, among them the Pontbriants. Their son Larry’s story is recounted. Arrangements are being made to show the DVD at the 4th Annual Larry Pontbriant Memorial Run at Norwich Free Academy in May, 2011.
--The Larry Pontbriant Safety Fund concludes a very successful Cookbook Fundraiser after selling all 300 copies of “From Us, With Love”, late Winter, 2011.
--Norwich Free Academy, Norwich, CT, Larry Pontbriant’s high school, wins both the high school division and the grand prize in the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation’s Video Contest to raise awareness about SCA, CPR and AEDs with their video, “How To Save a Life”, Spring 2010.
--Larry and Evelyn Pontbriant win Backus Hospital’s first William A. Slater Award in November, 2009 for working to improve the health of their community. Backus Hospital donates $10,000 to the Larry Pontbriant Athletic Safety Fund in their behalf.
--Two AED Bills passed into law in Connecticut in May and June of 2009, Public Act No. 09-94, AN ACT CONCERNING THE AVAILABILITY OF AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS IN SCHOOLS and Public Act No. 09-59 AN ACT CONCERNING AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS.
--First week of June declared National CPR/AED Awareness Week by passage of a new resolution in Congress in 2008.
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