June
1, 2009, Edmonton – The Heart and Stroke Foundation (HSF) received a $1 million
contribution by the Boston Pizza Foundation to its national Heart&Stroke Restart
a Heart, Restart a Life Automated External Defibrillator (AED) program.
The contribution will support the
allocation, training and installation of 200 AEDs in public places across the
country over the next five years.
“This generous contribution by the Boston
Pizza Foundation will make defibrillators easily accessible to Canadians and
increase the potential to save thousands of lives,” says Diana Krescy, CEO of
the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta, NWT & Nunavut.
Defibrillators will be placed in public
places across the country including community centers, sports arenas, shopping
malls, etc.
Criteria for determining community areas
most in need include emergency response times, the potential of higher
incidence of sudden cardiac arrests in large public spaces, and local readiness
to support a public access defibrillator program.
“Giving back to the community in which we
live and work is integral to the Boston Pizza Foundation and, as proud
supporters of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, we see the public AED program as
the perfect fit,” says Cheryl Treliving, executive director of the Boston Pizza
Foundation. “I’m pleased to announce the
Boston Pizza Foundation will support the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s goal of
helping save more lives by increasing access to AEDs in communities throughout
Canada.”
Hockey great Jiri Fischer spoke about the
efforts which saved his life when he underwent sudden cardiac death on the
Detroit Red Wings bench during a game against Nashville on November 21, 2005.
“Personnel knowledgeable in the use of CPR and AEDs saved my life. That’s why
it is so important to train CPR and to place more AEDs in public places. It
will help save more lives and create cardiac-safe communities everywhere,” says
Fischer.
As Heart and Stroke Foundation
spokesperson, Fischer is helping to raise awareness of the importance of CPR
and use of AEDs by sharing his personal story. AEDs make it possible for
non-medical personnel to restore heart rhythm and life. The AED uses voice
prompts, lights and text messages to tell the rescuer what steps to take and
delivers an electric shock to the heart. AEDs are safe and effective at
restarting the heart and restoring life in most cases.
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