Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service and the Heart and Stroke Foundation bring life-saving defibrillators to public facilities throughout Manitoba
Boston Pizza Foundation and The Cowan Foundation contribution supports defibrillator placement and training
Released: 9:45 p.m.
NEWS @ A GLANCE: Today, the City of Winnipeg and the Heart and Stroke Foundation (HSF) announced that life-saving automated external defibrillators (AED) are now available in more than 50 new locations throughout Manitoba. (for more details, please read the full media release below) |
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WINNIPEG - November 17, 2011 - Today, the City of Winnipeg and the Heart and Stroke Foundation (HSF) announced that life-saving automated external defibrillators (AED) are now available in more than 50 new locations throughout Manitoba.
Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Service (WFPS) announced their own donation of 20 AEDs to Winnipeg Public Library locations throughout Winnipeg and an additional 10 units to Winnipeg Police Service facilities and City administrative offices. This will complement the 84 AEDs already in City of Winnipeg facilities. This donation of these AEDs, previously used by WFPS, is possible after upgraded defibrillators were placed on City fire trucks.
"As Mayor, I am proud that more than 100 public locations across Winnipeg will now have accessible AEDs that make such a remarkable difference in saving lives anywhere, before EMS arrive," said Mayor Sam Katz. "I am especially pleased that the Heart and Stroke Foundation, along with their supporters, have made the safety and well-being of Winnipeggers paramount with their contributions to our facilities today."
The Heart and Stroke Foundation's donation of 24 AEDs (valued at more than $3,000 each) was made possible through the support of national sponsors Boston Pizza Foundation and The Cowan Foundation. Both sponsors have championed the HSF national Heart&Stroke Restart a Heart, Restart a Life™ Automated External Defibrillator (AED) program.
"Quick access to AEDs is vital to creating cardiac-safe communities everywhere," says Debbie Brown, President and CEO for HSF in Manitoba. "Thanks to generous support from Boston Pizza Foundation and The Cowan Foundation, we are able to provide this life-saving equipment to public facilities with the greatest and most urgent need."
The combined contribution made by Boston Pizza Foundation and The Cowan Foundation has supported the purchase, allocation, training and installation of AEDs in Winnipeg locations such as the Assiniboine Park Zoo, Centre for Youth Excellence, and includes two AEDs for placement at the new Winnipeg Blue Bombers Football Stadium. Donations also include placement at rural public places such as the Russell Regional Multiplex Project, Gladstone District Community Centre, and Camp Arnes in Gimli (please see below for a full listing of locations).
The Heart&Stroke Restart a Heart, Restart a Life™ program is committed to increasing the number of AEDs in communities across Manitoba and Canada. The program focuses on increasing public awareness of the role of AEDs and encourages citizens to make a difference by learning CPR so they are able to respond to a sudden cardiac arrest emergency.
"The Boston Pizza Foundation is committed to working with the Heart and Stroke Foundation to place more than 400 AEDs in public access places across Canada," says Cheryl Treliving, Executive Director, Boston Pizza Foundation. "Our support goes well beyond the $1 million dollar donation made in 2009 as we work with Boston Pizza franchisees to place AEDs in our stores. We continue to engage local community organizations to encourage and facilitate proper training and usage of CPR and AEDs."
"We began sponsoring Heart and Stroke's AED program in 2007 with a donation of $1 million because we believed it was important to assist with the distribution of AEDs in Canadian communities," explains Maureen Cowan. "We continue to support this meaningful initiative by extending our support for another $1 million, to allow AED access in more communities throughout Canada because the program is succeeding and lives are being saved."
Criteria for determining areas most in need include emergency response times, the potential of higher incidence of sudden cardiac arrests in large public places, and local readiness to support a public access defibrillator program.
AEDs make it possible for non-medical personnel to potentially restore heart rhythm and life. The AED uses voice prompts and text messages to tell the rescuer what steps to take and delivers an electric shock to the heart. AEDs are safe and effective when used within minutes of collapse at restarting the heart and restoring life.
According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, as many as 45,000 cardiac arrest occur in Canada each year. Almost 85 per cent of all cardiac arrests take place in the home or in public places, of which less than 5 per cent survive. Learning CPR is easy and inexpensive and it could mean saving the life of a friend or family member. The chance of an individual's survival can be increased by up to 75 per cent if CPR and an AED are used in the first few minutes.
The donated AEDs will be placed at the following locations:
Winnipeg:
- All Winnipeg Public Libraries;
- Millennium Library (three units)
- Henderson Library
- Pembina Trail Library
- Louis Riel Library
- River Heights Library
- Sir William Stephenson Library
- West Kildonan Library
- St. James Assiniboia Library
- Fort Garry Library
- Westwood Library
- St. Vital Library
- Charleswood Library
- Transcona Library
- St. Boniface Library
- Munroe Library
- Windsor Park Library
- St. John's Library
- Cornish Library
- Assiniboine Park Zoo (one mobile, one stationary unit)
- Winnipeg Blue Bombers stadium
- Centre for Youth Excellence
- Centro Caboto Centre
- Earl Grey Community Centre
- Charleswood Broncos/Charleswood Hawks
- Fort Garry Community Centre (Hobson Site)
- Lord Roberts Community Centre
- Military Family Resource Centre
- Murdoch Mackay Collegiate
- North Kildonan Community Centre
- Roblin Park Community Centre
- Siloam Mission
- Sinclair Park Community Centre
- Sports for Life Centre
- Valley Gardens Community Centre
- Winnipeg Police Service (Public Safety Building, Records Checks/ Fingerprinting, District 2 Station Duty, District 3 Station Duty, East District Station Duty and District 6 Station Duty)
- City of Winnipeg Assessment and Taxation Support Services
- City of Winnipeg Planning and Land Use Office
- City of Winnipeg Plan Examination Branch
- Winnipeg Fleet Management Agency
Rural:
- Flin Flon - North of 53 Consumer Cooperative Limited
- Gimli - Camp Arnes
- Gladstone District Community Centre, Community Hall
- MacGregor/Heartland Recreation Commission - Normac Community Centre
- Russell Regional Multiplex Project
- Virden Multi-Purpose Recreation Facility
About the Heart and Stroke Foundation
The Heart and Stroke Foundation, a volunteer-based health charity, leads in eliminating heart disease and stroke and reducing their impact through the advancement of research and its application, the promotion of healthy living, and advocacy.
About the Boston Pizza Foundation
The Boston Pizza Foundation raises funds for many charities across Canada, including Kids Help Phone, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. Since its inception in 1990, the Boston Pizza Foundation has raised more than $12.1 million through various fundraising initiatives, the money raised supports local, national, and global non-profit organizations, all of which directly improve the health and well-being of children and families
About The Cowan Foundation
The Cowan Foundation is a charitable foundation that was activated in 1995 in honour of Frank Cowan, the company founder. The Foundation exists because of the success of the Cowan Group of Companies including Cowan Insurance Group, Frank Cowan Company, the Guarantee Company of North America and Millennium CreditRisk Management. Together they provide insurance and risk management products and services for individuals, businesses, organizations and public entities as well as assisting employers with their group benefits, retirement and health and disability management plans.
About the Heart&Stroke ReStart a Heart, Restart a LifeTM program
The Heart&Stroke Restart a Heart, Restart a Life™ program is committed to increasing the number of AEDs in communities across Canada. The program focuses on increasing public awareness of the role of AEDs and encourages citizens to make a difference by learning CPR so they are able to respond to a sudden cardiac arrest emergency.
Media Inquiries:
Tammy Witko, Communications Manager
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Manitoba
204-949-2023 / Toll-free: 1-888-473-4636
twitko@heartandstroke.mb.ca
Tammy Melesko, Communications Officer
City of Winnipeg
204-986-6000
tmelesko@winnipeg.ca
Perry Schwartz, Director of Communications
Boston Pizza International Inc.
905-361-3616
schwartzP@bostonpizza.com
Lynne Short, VP Marketing and Communications
Cowan Insurance Group
519-650-6363 ext. 31608
lynne.short@cowangroup.ca
Last update:
21.11.2011
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