HEART&STROKE LAUNCHES PUBLIC ACCESS DEFIBRILLATION PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NEW BRUNSWICK EMS
TO HELP SAVE LIVES IN PUBLIC PLACES THROUGHOUT NEW BRUNSWICK
Fredericton, August 20th, 2008 – Today, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of New Brunswick (HFSNB) launches the Heart&Stroke Restart a Heart, Restart a Life campaign in partnership with the New Brunswick EMS Public Access Defibrillation program (PAD) to help improve the survival rate after sudden cardiac arrest in New Brunswick. The campaign received a very generous donation from its Premier Sponsors Medavie Blue Cross and The Frank Cowan Foundation of $50,000 each which solidified a great start to a life saving initiative.
The objective of the campaign is to secure funding that will enable the partners to distribute Automated External Defibrillators throughout New Brunswick through an application and selection process e.g., community centres, hockey arenas and other public gathering places. The HSFNB will be soliciting donations from the public and the corporate sector to achieve this goal.
The proceeds from the campaign will be held by the HSFNB in the Bruce Hadley Tribute Fund. On August 25th 2007, Bruce passed away as a result of a heart attack. It occurred while he was jogging, something he loved to do on a regular basis. Bruce was only 32 and was from Bathurst, he sadly left behind a loving wife and two young children. As an RCMP officer, he touched the lives of many people and for these reasons, his family, friends, and co-workers have decided to organize the Memorial Bruce Hadley Relay Run for Heart, where all proceeds go towards the Restart a Heart – Restart a Life fund in his honor.
“In New Brunswick alone, approximately 1,200 cardiac arrests occur annually in out-of-hospital settings. Defibrillation can improve cardiac arrest survival rates from 5 to 50 percent if delivered in the first few minutes.” says Dan Connolly, Chief Executive Officer, Heart and Stroke Foundation of New Brunswick.
The placement of Automated External Defibrillators will be coordinated in partnership with the NB EMS PAD program, who will manage site selection, training, and linkage to all emergency services. NB EMS is a subsidiary of Medavie EMS, a member of the Medavie Blue Cross group of companies who manages land and air ambulance services in the province of New Brunswick. NB EMS offers an education and support program for defibrillation through its PAD program.
“This is a terrific program that we are confident will help save lives,” says Rock Marois, Chief Operating Officer of NB EMS. “It represents the kind of partnership that benefits New Brunswickers directly and is helping us build a Cardiac Safe Province. NB EMS, through its PAD program, is pleased to partner with the Heart and Stroke Foundation to help making the province’s public places even safer.”
The AEDs will be linked to the New Brunswick EMS Program. Through the Heart&Stroke Restart a Heart, Restart a Life campaign, six staff members at each facility will be professionally trained to use each of the new AEDs. These trained personnel will be prepared to be called into action to assist someone who is having a cardiac arrest.
“Intervening quickly and having trained personnel close by is essential to improve survival rates. This is important because with each passing minute, the odds of surviving a sudden cardiac arrest decrease by seven to 10 percent. Together, with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of New Brunswick, NB EMS contributes to building the necessary training infrastructure to ensure the steps of the Chain of Survival can be implemented immediately,” says Marois.
To learn more about NB EMS PAD program, call toll free: 1-888-998-7171.
For more information on how you can make a donation through the Restart a Heart – Restart a Life campaign, or to inquire about receiving an AED through this program, please call toll free: 1-800-663-3600.