Posted on 05/22/2009

Contribution will place and provide training for 200 AEDs across Canada

Edmonton, Alberta–The Heart and Stroke Foundation (HSF) today announced a $1 million contribution by the Boston Pizza Foundation to its national Heart&Stroke Restart a Heart, Restart a Life(TM) 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 Krecsy, CEO of the Heart and StrokeFoundation 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 tothe 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 that saved his life when he suffered 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.

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