Rescue 7 Weekly Review: June 15th-21st
On Thursday, June 11th, Rescue 7 instructors Norman Goldberg and Andrew Lawee were teaching a CPR recertification to the lifeguards of Baie D’Urfé Aquatic Club. The two were finishing packing some equipment into their car when, across the lane at the Baie D’Urfé Tennis Club, an attendant shouted for help. Hearing the cry for help, Andrew ran out from the pool with his CPR mask, and Norm grabbed his trauma kit from his trunk. A member of the club was doing chest compressions on an elderly player, named Marek Kapuscinski. Norm took out from his bag his Samaritan PAD 350, turned it on and the attendant placed the pads on the victim. The AED quickly stated that a shock was advised and charged up; the shock button was pressed the the man regained consciousness within seconds. He didn’t even want to go to the hospital! The team had the man remain lying down until EMS took over. The estimation is that compressions were started very quickly after the collapse, and CPR was done for about two minutes prior to the pads being placed. Mr. Kapuscinski is doing well.
The Pan Am torch relay continues: OPP officers have been side-by-side with all the torchbearers, which means so has Rescue 7! This past week, the torch (and our defibrillator) have seen Mississauga, Port Credit, Richmond (BC), Sarnia, Aamjiwnaang First Nations, Wallaceburg, Chatham-Kent, Tecumseh, Windsor, Essex, Leamington, Point Pelee National Park, St. Thomas, London, Ingersoll, Woodstock, Tavistock, Stratford, Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, Brantford, Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation, Burlington, Welland, St. Catharines, Port Dalhousie, Niagara Falls, Winona, Stoney Creek, Ancaster, Dundas, Waterdown, and Hamilton. Thankfully, no one has needed to actually use the AED. For past media coverage of Rescue 7’s protection during the relay, see the Weekly Review: June 8th-14th! You can also find up-to-date coverage of the relay movement on our Twitter account (@_rescue7).
On Saturday, June 20th, Rescue 7 donated the first defibrillator to Cara Stoddart. In May of this year, Andrew Stoddart passed away suddenly on the soccer field at the young age 15. The Ingersoll Collegiate District Institute student was described as kind, caring and a gifted athlete. He was part of the track team, played soccer and football. His football coach said he was on his way to becoming a star quarterback. Had there been a defibrillator immediately available, Andrew’s outcome may have been different. The Stoddart family has called for defibrillators to be present at every sporting event and every sporting venue, so that this tragedy does not repeat itself. Rescue 7 is proud to say that the first defibrillator has been donated to Andrew’s mom, Cara (pictured below)! The AED will be available for use at the field where Andrew played soccer. All coaches have keys to the school so they can have the AED at the field whenever the field is in use. For more information about Andrew Stoddart, you can read here: http://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/family-calls-for-defibrillators…
Polo for Heart, which took place June 19th-21st at the Gormley Polo Centre, was a HUGE success! We would like to thank everyone who came out to support the cause. We are so proud to have been a sponsor for the event. From skydivers to hound dogs to the Canadian Cowgirls, it was quite the spectacle! It was amazing weather all weekend, the horses were beautiful and the drinks were cold – and all to support the Heart and Stroke Foundation. For more photos from the event, visit (and like) our Facebook page!
