Healthy Living
Mental Health First Aid

You Can Register Now for a Mental Health First Aid Course in Darien — Seating Limited to First 30

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You can take a Mental Health First Aid course in Darien on Friday, Sept. 27 at Darien EMS. The course is designed for the general public, as well as those involved in any of the healthcare and first responder fields. But if you decide to register, do it early — seating is limited to the first 30 who sign up. (See the end of this article for more details.)

— information in this article is from state Rep. Terrie Wood’s newsletter and an online description of the course. What Mental Health First Aid Training Is
This Mental Health First Aid course is an interactive experience that will give you key skills to help anyone developing a mental health problem, or experiencing a mental health crisis.

Public Safety
George Kroll Post 53 Darien EMS

State Lifts Recent Driving Ban for 17-Year-Old Post 53 Ambulance Drivers

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The state Labor Department has lifted a previous ruling that prevented 17-year-old members of Darien EMS-Post 53 from driving the agency’s ambulances, and that will make it much easier for teenagers in the group, the newly elected president of the high school organization said. It wasn’t just frustrating for the 17-year-olds in the organization — it was very difficult on the 18-year-olds, said George Kroll, a Darien High School senior and now president of the group. Joe Larcheveque, the executive director of the group, normally delivers the organization’s quarterly report to the Board of Selectmen, but he couldn’t make it to the meeting, so Kroll stepped in. Darien EMS-Post 53 was relying on 18-year-olds to do much of the driving and therefore to be on call a lot of the time, he said. “That meant right when you turn 18 at Post, you were on duty — you were pretty much sacrificing your social life and everything you do to Post in order to keep Post running,” Kroll said Tuesday at the town Board of Selectmen’s quarterly meeting for town department heads.

Public Safety

Darien Students Complete Post 53 Six-Month Emergency Medical Technician Training

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Twenty-four students completed Darien EMS-Post 53’s intensive six-month EMT training program as the first step to becoming a state-certified EMT.  In addition, two adults completed the course and will join Post 53 as adult advisors. — an announcement from Darien EMS-Post 53
Post 53, along with Stamford EMS, administered the course, running from October through March for High School sophomores and a few interested adults.  The EMT course is a college level curriculum sanctioned and managed by the state of Connecticut. Students receive their certification after successfully completing written and practical tests following 170 classroom and observation hours.  The course focuses on medical-related emergencies that occur outside the hospital. In each case the EMT learns how to handle the patient from assessment to treatment.  Students are taught by qualified instructors and learn all standard EMT skills, including CPR certification. The EMT class rides along with both the Norwalk and Stamford EMS services, experiencing EMS/field medicine with senior EMS professionals and paramedics, as well as each hospital’s emergency room.

Art Exhibits

Grieb’s Pharmacy Displays Art by Peter Saverine All Summer

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Following recent interior renovations at Grieb’s Pharmacy, a Darien landmark in its original location since 1947, owners Debi and Chuck Hibben wanted to create an ideal space to showcase local artwork. To kick off what they hope will be an ongoing, rotating exhibit of local art, Darien native and artist Peter Saverine created some oversized seascapes. Each work will be for sale for $450 and 20 percent will be donated by the artist to support Darien Post 53 EMS. The exhibit will hang until the end of August. — an announcement from Peter Saverine and Grieb’s Pharmacy

Saverine’s new collection, which he is calling, “Darien, I like the Sound of it,” features six 18 x 36” painted canvases depicting some of his favorite visions of Long Island Sound. Since opening its doors in 1947, Grieb’s Pharmacy has proudly served seven generations of families in the community with a commitment to outstanding customer service.