Chester County proclaims Heart Health Month and honors 911 telecommunicator who helped save a life
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Summary
Chester County commissioners declared February 2026 Heart Health Month and recognized 911 telecommunicator Kayla Whitlaufer after she coached Terry Brazilo through CPR, helping save her husband Robert’s life. Commissioners highlighted county heart-disease statistics and urged residents to call 911 for suspected cardiac events.
The Chester County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 4 proclaimed February 2026 Heart Health Month and honored a Chester County 911 telecommunicator whose instructions helped a local woman perform lifesaving CPR.
Commissioner Mary Moskowitz read the proclamation and noted that between 2019 and 2023, 21% of deaths in Chester County were due to heart disease, adding that residents should learn heart-attack signs and call 911 promptly. "We call upon all citizens to learn the signs of heart attack and take quick action by calling 911 because every second counts," Moskowitz said while reading the proclamation.
The board recognized Kayla Whitlaufer, the telecommunicator who dispatched first responders and guided Terry Brazilo through CPR after her husband, Robert, suffered a left anterior descending heart attack in November. Terry Brazilo described the call: "She asked me what is going on. I described Bob's condition. She said to me, 'lady, get control of yourself. We're gonna do this together,'" Brazilo said, crediting Kayla with giving her the courage to act.
Kayla, participating virtually, said meeting survivors and hearing their stories "made me remember why I love my job" and that it reinvigorated her team's commitment to emergency dispatch work. Health Director Jean Franklin offered brief heart-health advice, encouraging blood-pressure awareness, movement, whole foods and prompt medical attention for unexplained symptoms.
The proclamation was signed by all three commissioners. Robert and Terry Brazilo attended the meeting and posed for photos with commissioners and Kayla.
The board did not take formal action beyond the proclamation; the recognition served as both a personal acknowledgment and a public reminder about heart-disease risks and the role of 911 services in improving outcomes.