News from 2007

Defibrillators in all Halton High Schools, Rob Faulkner

December 18, 2007

Halton Region says it's the first in Ontario to adopt defibrillators in every one of its public and Catholic high schools.

The landmark presentation came late last week, as politicians, educators and health providers gathered at Burlington Central High School for a $72,000 gift.

By the end of the school year, all seven Catholic high schools and 17 public high schools will have automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and staff training.

The Mikey Network, a not-for-profit charity established by a building firm that lost partner Mike Salem, donated the whole cost of 24 AEDs. Halton region EMS will train staff. The donation follows several deaths from cardiac arrests that might have been prevented if schools had defibrillators.

Burlington Central principal Tom Adams says the 2006 death of 15-year-old Nick Baff in class changed his students, staff and school life forever.

"It caused reflection, on safety, and brought loss to students who may not have lost a parent or grandparent yet," an emotional Adams said.

Also in 2006, Oakville Trafalgar High School student Alex Corrance, 17, died in a Boxing Day hockey tournament. An autopsy detected a heart defect. A basketball coach died in a Halton Catholic high school about six years ago.

Halton Region says AEDs in public places can boost cardiac arrest survival rates by 20 per cent. Since a 2002 law required them in New York schools, 51 lives were saved, including 12 students.

Dr. Joel Kirsch, a heart specialist at Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, said it's rare for teens to die of cardiac arrest, but it's worth considering measures such as pre-screening before sports activities and family history evaluations to reduce the rate.

The Mikey Network was founded by Heathwood Homes and the Heron Group of Companies after Salem died while golfing in Muskoka in 2002.

The enemy in cardiac arrest is time: Once a heart stops beating, survival rates fall with each passing second. In addition to CPR and 911 calls, new defibrillators that talk you through their use make it possible for non-experts to help a victim with an electric shock.

Six of 24 units are already in Halton schools and dozens of staff are trained. The goal is to train 42 staff per school and reach user groups and possibly students learning CPR.

The Mikey Network also announced a "pay it forward" campaign in which Halton schools will fundraise for devices to go in schools that lack them, Mikey co-chair Hugh Heron said.

According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 40,000 Canadians suffer a cardiac arrest each year. A small number, 700, are reportedly children.

Neither Hamilton public nor Hamilton Catholic boards have automated external defibrillators in their schools.

A Life-Saving Donation, Tim Whitnell

December 12, 2007

All high schools in Halton should have a potentially life-saving device installed in them by the end of the current school year.

The Mikey Network is donating 24 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to Halton's public and Catholic secondary schools.

An announcement of the donation is being made Friday at Central H.S. Hugh Heron, president of Heathwood Homes, will be present. His company established the Mikey Network in memory of Mike Salem, a Heathwood Homes partner who died of a heart ailment on a Muskoka golf course in 2002.

The donation, valued at $72,000, is part of a new Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) program in Ontario.

In 2006, two Halton high school students died suddenly from cardiac causes. Nicholas Baff, 15, collapsed in a classroom at Burlington Central while an Oakville teen, Alex Corrance, 17, died after collapsing while playing in a rep hockey tournament.

"There is a chance of a better outcome if a defibrillator is available rapidly," said Blake Hurst, public safety education co-ordinator with Halton Region's Emergency Medical Services (EMS). "No one can say definitively that a person would be alive today if they had access to a defibrillator. Our current survival rate for cardiac arrest across most of southern Ontario is less than five per cent for cases outside of the hospital," he noted.

A defibrillator delivers a charge of 150-200 joules to a person whose heart is out of its normal rhythm, a condition known as ventricular fibrillation. The electrical jolt delivered by an AED stops the out-of-rhythm heart with the body, hopefully, restarting the heart to its correct rhythm.

Hurst said the chances of survival for someone in ventricular fibrillation decreases by 10 per cent per minute.

A defibrillator is the last resort of cardiovascular disease prevention, said Hurst. He said more should be done to prevent the need for using one by raising awareness of heart-health issues, like exercise and eating properly, in schools and the community.

"Acting on unexplained fainting spells, I think, will save more lives in the long run but the defibrillator is the gateway into the schools," he said.

Statistics show that about one in 600 teens has an undiagnosed heart problem which translates into two students in a typical high school, said Hurst.

He said that by Christmas Iroquois Ridge and St. Thomas Aquinas high schools in Oakville and Central and Notre Dame in Burlington should have their own AEDs, joining Christ the King in Georgetown and Oakville Trafalgar, which received one each last year.

MIKEY Saves Lives Around GTA

December 6 , 2007

Recently, Toronto’s professional soccer team - Toronto FC - and BMO Field, were presented with a public-access defibrillator called a “MIKEY” by Hugh Heron, Chairman of The Mikey Network.  A MIKEY is about the size of a laptop computer and administers an electrical charge through two soft pads attached to a person’s chest. MIKEYs offer victims a fighting chance if they suffer sudden cardiac arrest. Having a unit available in a high-risk public place such as the soccer field can help to save lives.

Heron is also a Principal/Partner in The Heron Group of Companies and President of Heathwood Homes – the companies that founded The Mikey Network in 2003. The organization is named for their partner and friend, Mike Salem, who experienced sudden cardiac arrest on a golf course in 2002 and died.  

Heron presented the MIKEY to Marc Petitpas, General Manager of BMO Field, and spoke about the tremendous benefits of having a MIKEY on site at this soccer-specific field in Exhibition Place. Heron was named BMO “Community Hero of the Game” on the final day of the season, for demonstrating dedication and passion through his commitment to the community.  The Mikey Network is partnered with Toronto Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to make Toronto a Cardiac Safe City. EMS handles the role of ensuring that on-site staff are trained in the effective use of the MIKEYS.  

These special defibrillators are popping up everywhere across Toronto and the GTA, especially at sports-related facilities. In fact, in late 2006, The Mikey Network had its first “save” with a MIKEY at the Toronto Racquet Club. Squash Ontario has now aligned itself with The Mikey Network to install MIKEYS into each of its 180 facilities. SCOREGolf magazine and The Mikey Network have joined forces to place a MIKEY at every golf course across Canada through a special subscription program, and this year, the Network was one of the many charities supported by the Toronto Marathon. 

As sudden cardiac arrest can happen at any age, The Mikey Network has also partnered with Toronto District School Board, Sick Kids Hospital, Toronto EMS and Sunnybrook-Osler Centre for Pre-Hospital Care to launch the Mikey Young-at-Heart School Defibrillator Program. The Network is donating 120 MIKEYS to be installed in the TDSB’s secondary schools, outdoor education centre and administrative site.

To date, The Mikey Network has raised $1 million and has committed 300 MIKEYS across the GTA. 

Hugh Heron presents a MIKEY to Marc Petitpas, general manager of BMO Field. Heron was named as the BMO Community Hero of the game.

Press Release

Joshua's Creek Arena, Oakville

November 23, 2007

Sadly, on Boxing Day 2006, 17 year old Alex Corrance passed away on the ice during a hockey game.  The Grade 12 Oakville-Trafalgar High School student was playing for the Triple A Oakville Rebels in the first game of a Christmas tournament in Scarborough.

Prior to the Oakville Blades home game at Joshua's Creek Arenas at 7:30 on Friday November 23, 2007 two "Mikey" Automated External Defibrillators (AED's) will be donated to the Town of Oakville in Alex's memory.  Funds for the equipment were raised at a Ball Hockey Tournament hosted by sports fitness experts at Beyond the Next Level and by a very generous donation from the Alex Corrance Memorial Fund.  The "MIKEYS" were purchased through the Mikey Network, a not-for-profit agency that places "MIKEYS" in community venues throughout Ontario.  One "MIKEY" will be installed at the Joshua's Creek Arena while the other will travel with Minor Oaks Hockey Association teams when they attend games and tournaments out of town.

In addition to the on ice ceremony, on Saturday morning the 24th of November at 10:00 am in the Community Room at the Joshua's Creek Arena, Halton Region EMS will be conducting a 90 minute seminar on Cardiac Emergency Response.  The seminar will introduce concepts in Heart Attack and stroke recognition, Signs of Cardiac Arrhythmia in Teenagers, CPR and AED use.

Public Access Defibrillators (PAD) programs are designed to improve survival rates for out of hospital cardiac arrest.  They key to surviving a cardiac arrest is the time from patient collapse to delivery of the first shock.  In most North American communities the survival rate is less than 5%.  Placing "MIKEYS" throughout the community, where people live, work and play is the most effective way to reduce the time to first shock.  Well designed PAD programs have achieved more than 20% improvement in survival rates.

The four Municipalities in Halton Region have established Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) programs.  All Arenas, Pools, Senior's Activity Centres, Town Halls and Police Stations, as well as many other public buildings, are AED equipped and several staff at each site are trained responders.  Also many corporations have implemented PAD programs and public spaces.

The Mikey Network was established by Heathwood Homes and the Heron Group of Companies in memory of a friend and partner Mike Salem who died of cardiac arrest while golfing in Muskoka in the summer of 2002.  In his name "MIKEYS" are placed in as many public facilities as possible, so that other cardiac arrest victims may have a second chance at life.  The Mikey Network has been very supportive of PAD programs in Halton Region placing "MIKEYS" with curling clubs, soccer clubs, the marine rescue unit and Regional Police vehicles.  With donations through their new "Mikey's Young at Heart" school defibrillator program every high school in Halton Region will be receiving a "MIKEY" in this school year.

Press Release

Halton District School Board

November 21, 2007

On Wednesday November 21, 2007 Iroquois Ridge High School in Oakville will become the third high school in Halton Region to launch a Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) program. By the end of the current school year all of the 17 Public and 7 Catholic High Schools in Halton will have PAD programs in place. This will put Halton at the forefront of school based PAD programming in Ontario.

Iroquois Ridge Vice-Principal Sheila Emmerson is enthusiastic about the program’s potential “Not only will we be better equipped to deal with cardiac emergencies but we will also increase our awareness of all cardiovascular health issues” explained Ms. Emmerson.

The project to equip all area high schools with Automated External Defibrillators (AED’s) and have staff trained in cardiac emergency response techniques is a partnership between Halton District School Board, Halton District Catholic School Board, the Regional Municipality of Halton and The Mikey Network. Training for up to 32 staff at each school will be delivered by Halton Region Emergency Medical Services (EMS), while the entire cost of the 24 AED’s was funded by The Mikey Network, a not-for-profit agency that places AED’s in community venues throughout Ontario. The program receives technical support from Dr. Joel Kirsch and the Pediatric Cardiology Department at Sick Kids Hospital, Toronto.

Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) programs are designed to improve survival rates for out of hospital cardiac arrest. The key to surviving a cardiac arrest is the time from patient collapse to delivery of the first defibrillating shock. In most North American communities the survival rate is less than 5%. Placing AED’s throughout the community, where people live, work and play is the most effective way to reduce the time to first shock. Well designed community PAD programs have achieved more than 20% improvement in survival rates.

Occurrences of Sudden Cardiac Death are not uncommon on school properties and PAD programs have been proven effective in dealing with the problem. Since passing a law in 2002 that all schools be equipped with AED’s, 51 lives have been saved on school properties in New York State, including 39 adults and 12 students. In addition to protecting staff and students, community groups using school facilities on evenings and weekends will also benefit from the presence of AED’s.

In 2006 two Halton Region high school students died suddenly from cardiac causes, one in his classroom and one while playing hockey. Dr. Kirsch suggests that as many as 1 in 600 young people are living with an undetected but potentially deadly cardiac syndrome. When a previously undetected cardiac problem results in life threatening symptoms the most effective intervention is immediate CPR and defibrillation performed within a few minutes of patient collapse.

The fundraising component associated with the school initiative will have two goals, to help raise funds to purchase AED's for other schools in Ontario and to raise awareness amongst students and staff of all heart health issues, including lifestyle choices, heart attack and stroke recognition and emergency response techniques.  Funding is being coordinated through the Mikey Network's "MIKEY YOUNG AT HEART SCHOOL DEFIBRILLATOR PROGRAM".  The commitment to Halton schools follows on The Mikey Networks funding of 120 AED's for the Toronto District School Board announced in March of this year.  Executive Director, Morty Henkle has indicated that "the goal is to see every school student in Ontario protected by a

Mikey Defibrillator".

The Mikey Network was established by Heathwood Homes and the Heron Group of Companies in memory of friend and partner Mike Salem who died of cardiac arrest while golfing in Muskoka in the summer of 2002. In his name AED’s are placed in as many public facilities as possible, so that other cardiac arrest victims may have a second chance at life. The Mikey Network has been very supportive of PAD programs in Halton Region placing AED’s with curling clubs, soccer clubs, the marine rescue unit and Regional Police vehicles.

For more information on PAD programs in Halton Region please call the Region at 905 825-6000.

Contact:

Blake Hurst at 905-825-6000 Ext. 7498

« Back to Mikey Network Current News

 

The Mikey Network & Score Golf Magazine Partner To Save Golfers Lives
3,000 Canadian golf courses to get MIKEYS

June 21, 2007

TORONTO, June 21/07 - The Mikey Network has partnered with SCOREGolf magazine to provide each of Canada's 3,000 golf courses with the opportunity to install "MIKEY" Public Access Defibrillators (PADs) to be available for their members, guests and employees in case of sudden cardiac arrest.

A special one year $10 

Executive Director Morty Henkle describes partnership between The Mikey Network's and ScoreGolf magazine (R - L) Tuppy Blair and Stu Brindle.

SCOREGolf Magazine

subscription offer will see

$7.50 directed toward the

purchase of the $3,000

MIKEYS with CPR/AED

training of up to eight people.

Also included is an on-site

assessment of how many

each course will require,

depending on size, for    

optimum effectiveness.

Morty Henkle, Executive

Director of The Mikey Network said that, "Golf courses are among the most common public places where cardiac arrest occurs. Because of their large area and often remote locations, golf courses are also among the most difficult for emergency medical teams to reach quickly. This partnership presents the opportunity to protect anyone who comes to the courses to play or work."

Tuppy Blair, SCOREGolf Magazine's Circulation Director is concerned that, "too many people are waiting for their heart attack before getting involved, and if this partnership saves even a couple of lives, it will all be worth the effort. Our readers will also be invited to donate higher amounts in addition to their subscription payment," she added.

Press Release