KINGSTON – There are now five entities in Ulster County that have received the designation of Heart Safe Community.

Three new ones were honored Wednesday – the Ulster County Law Enforcement Center in Kingston, John Coleman Catholic High School in Hurley and Ulster Hose #5 Fire Company in the Town of Ulster.

The two original designees are the Town of Lloyd, with 19 defibrillators in town buildings, and IXL, a gym in Saugerties.

Heart Safe Community Committee Chairman Victor Work said the designations are given only after certain criteria are met.

“The purpose of the Heart Safe Community recognition is to recognize organizations that have trained their personnel in CPR, know how to access the 911 system, have an emergency plan in place, have an AED (automatic external defibrillator) and personnel trained in the use of it, and have filed an AED notice of intent with the Hudson Valley Regional EMS Council,” he said.

The Heart Safe Community program was brought to Ulster County in November 2007 by the American Heart Association. It is very active in Dutchess County.