York Region and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario take action on sudden cardiac arrest

 

NEWMARKET – The Regional Municipality of York will install 100 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) across York Region through a donation by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario (HSFO). This donation will officially be acknowledged at this week’s meeting of York Regional Council.

 

When:  Thursday, October 23rd
  9:10 a.m. - AED demonstration in the Great Hall
  9:30 a.m. - Presentation in Council Chambers

 

Where: York Region Administrative Centre
  17250 Yonge Street
Town of Newmarket

 

Who:  York Region Chairman and CEO Bill Fisch
  Members of York Regional Council
  Rocco Rossi, CEO, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario
  Frank Palladini, Al Palladini Legacy for Life Fund
  Cliff Sifton, Honorary Chair, PACE Credit Union “Polo for Heart”
  Joann Simmons, Commissioner, York Region Community and Health Services Department

 

 

An automated external defibrillator is a portable device used to treat victims of sudden cardiac arrest.  The AED delivers an electric shock that momentarily stops activity in the heart, giving it a chance to restart normal electrical activity and resume beating effectively.

 

Approximately 40,000 cardiac arrests occur in Canada every year, with 80 per cent occurring outside a hospital setting.  Defibrillation greatly improves chances of survival if delivered in the first few minutes.

 

In 2007, the Ministry of Health Promotion announced a $3-million donation to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario (HSFO) for the placement of life-saving AEDs in priority public sites across Ontario.  York Region Emergency Medical Services (EMS) was approached by the HSFO to take a leadership role in administrating this initiative to York Region municipalities.

 

Additional funds for this province-wide project have been received through donations to the Heart and Stroke Restart a Heart, Restart a Life program and the Heart and Stroke Chase McEachern Tribute Fund.  York Region donors include the Al Palladini Legacy for Life Fund and Pace Credit Union “Polo for Heart.”

 

For information on the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, please visit www.heartandstroke.com

 

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Media Contact: Jennifer Mitchell-Emmerson, Community and Health Services, York Region
 Phone: 905 830-4444, ext. 4016 After-hours Cell: 905 251-5553
 Email: jennifer.mitchellemmerson@york.ca