ATTLEBORO – Today completed ten years of teaching students in Attleboro lifesaving skills. Attleboro firefighters have been volunteering their own time to equip the next generation with the skills to save a life. Through the Heart Safe Schools program, every freshman class at Attleboro High School receives hands on instruction in CPR, AED use, and the Heimlich Maneuver, thanks to the dedication of their local fire department.
The program was founded in 2015 by Lt. Corey Blais, who recognized the critical gap between the moment a cardiac emergency occurs and the arrival of emergency services. “If we can train students year after year, our community will be stronger, safer, and more prepared” said Lt. Blais. “These students aren’t just learning a skill; they’re becoming potential lifesavers in their homes, schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods.”
Since then, more than 3,500 students have completed the training. That’s 3,500 more people in Attleboro who now have the confidence and ability to act when every second counts. In a cardiac emergency, early bystander CPR and defibrillation can triple a person’s chance of survival.
What makes this program truly unique is how it’s sustained. Heart Safe Schools is entirely volunteer run. Firefighters lead these sessions during their days off. The program runs without using any city taxpayer dollars. Instead, it continues through community donations and the generosity of local supporters who help fund CPR mannequins, training AEDs, and other essential supplies.
This initiative is about more than checking a box, it’s about changing outcomes. Whether it’s a student who uses the Heimlich on a choking sibling, or a future adult who begins CPR on a stranger in a park, the ripple effect of this program is immeasurable.
As we mark ten years of Heart Safe Schools, the Attleboro Fire Department is proud to reaffirm its commitment to community education, youth engagement, and prevention. We thank every student who took the training seriously, every family who supported the program, and every donor who made it possible.
