Rescue 7 Weekly Review: October 4th-18th
From the entire Rescue 7 team, we hope you had a very special and safe Thanksgiving weekend!
Rescue 7 and the National AED Arena Initiative
“On April 1, 2015, a 55-year-old man playing hockey at the Wilmot Recreation Complex Twin Pad Arena in Baden, Ont. went to the bench. When he was found slumped down between bench and floor, teammates moved him to an open area and one ran to get the AED. Other players called 9-1-1 and started CPR. EMS arrived on the scene in approximately five minutes.” – Heart & Stroke Foundation, June 2015
Approximately 16,000 Canadians die from a heart attack each year; most of these deaths occur out of hospital (Statistics Canada, 2012). Rescue 7 Inc., in conjunction with the National AED Arena Initiative, wants to make this number as small as it can possibly be. This can only happen with increased access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).
The National AED Arena Initiative, through a partnership between the Canadian government and the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation, aims to provide every recreational arena in Canada with an AED. AEDs are electronic devices used to restart a person’s heart that has stopped beating. They are safe, and easy to use: for every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation, a victim’s chances of survival decrease by 7-10%. AEDs will only provide defibrillation if the victim’s heart requires shocking.
“As Canadians, many of us spend time at our local hockey arenas. Unfortunately, each year we hear of stories of Canadians who suffered heart attacks while playing sports. Our Governments commitment to having AEDs in as many recreational arenas as possible will improve the survival rate of these Canadians who experience sudden cardiac arrests. I’m proud to announce that through the Government of Canada’s partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation, we have installed over 1300 life saving devices in communities across Canada, and still more will be installed in the coming months.” – Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health
Through this initiative, any arena* can receive a free AED with training in CPR and AED certification for up to 10 people. If you are interested in applying for your local arena, contact Rescue 7 (1 888-294-4208) for a semi-completed application.
Rescue 7’s HeartSine Samaritan PAD 500 is one the most lightweight and affordable AEDs on the market to date. It provides rescuers with feedback on the effectiveness of their CPR efforts – in real time. This was the chosen defibrillator to ride alongside the Pan Am torchbearers in Toronto in summer 2015.
*Arena is not eligible if already in possession of an AED.
On Thursday, October 15th, CEO John Collie instructed a webinar about AEDs in the workplace. In partnership with OECM, John will elaborated on these four questions: What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest? How serious is it? Who is at Risk? What is the Solution?
OECM is a not-for-profit corporation, mandated to support collaborative purchasing for Ontario’s publicly-funded education sector. To learn more, clickhere.
Are you watching the Jays kick off the post-season against the Rangers at the Rogers Centre? They have a HeartSine AED with them on the bench! #GoJaysGo #ComeTogether