How To Check & Maintain Your MIKEY Defibrillator

, ,

Last week was World Restart a Heart day which aimed to bring attention to CPR training and how to use a defibrillator in an emergency situation. When using either of these techniques the odds of a life being saved are greatly increased, which is why it’s so important for people around the world to know how to use and operate an AED and how to properly perform CPR.

Along with knowing how to use a defibrillator, it’s also hugely important that you know how to maintain and check if it’s working.

It is easy to make sure a defibrillator like our MIKEY’s are properly maintained and ready to save a life should the need arise.

We’ve made some short videos showing you how to check and where to find the expiration dates on MIKEY defibrillators.

We have also prepared a checklist and manual with detailed illustrations, that you should follow every month to make sure your MIKEY remains in working order.

Please download the manual and checklist here

Monthly maintenance check for Philips FRx MIKEY Defibrillator

 

 

Monthly maintenance check for your MIKEY Philips HeartStart defibrillator

 

 

Monthly maintenance for Physio-control (formerly Medtronic) MIKEY Defibrillator

 

 

For your convenience, here are the manufacturer manuals as well.

Phillips HeartStart OnSite Defibrillator

When a low battery is detected, the unit will start chirping and the status indicator will change from the ready for use state.

Download Self-Tests and Troubleshooting

Download Owner’s Manual

 

Physio-Control Lifepak CRPlus Defibrillator

The device monitors itself, including the battery system, and indicates its status on the readiness display. Periodically, you should look at the readiness display and confirm that OK is displayed, which means the device is ready to use.

Download Operating Instructions

Download LIFEPAK CR Plus Defibrillator User’s Checklist

Contact Information if replacement parts are indicated:

Philips 
Contact: The Mikey Network
Phone #: 416-494-2230

FRx
Battery: Part # M5070A $135.00
SMART PadsII Cartridge: Part # 989803139261 $62.00
Infant/Child Key: Part # 989803139311 $98.00

HeartStart OnSite
Battery: Part # M5070A $135.00
Adult SMART Pads Cartridge: Part # M5071A $58.00
Infant/Child Smart Pads Cartridge: Part # M5072A $95.00

 

Physio-Control (formerly Medtronic)
Contact: Workplace Medical Corp. First Aid Training
Toll Free: 1-800-205-3278

Lifepak CRPlus 
Adult Charge-Pak/2 Electrodes: Part # 11403-000001 $115.00
Infant/Child Reduced Energy Electrodes: Part # 11101-000016 $110.00

Major credit cards accepted. Please advise the distributor that you are a member of The Mikey Network for special pricing.
The product will be shipped directly to you.

Please be aware a Mikey Ambassador may request to visit your location & inspect the MIKEY unit. Our Mikey Ambassadors are volunteers who donate their time to ensure our units are always ready in case of an emergency.

If you have questions about your defibrillator please feel free to reach out to our team and we will work with you to answer your questions.

Mustard Seed Racing and Tarpin Lumber Raise Money for The Mikey Network

, ,

mikey-mustardseed-event2

This past weekend Mustard Seed Racing and Tarpin Lumber raised money for The Mikey Network at an action-packed race at Sunset International Speedway.

The money was raised from a 50/50 fundraiser. Members of the race team sold tickets to race spectators and half the money went to the raffle winner, and the other half went to The Mikey Network. In total over $1200 dollars was raised for the Mikey Network, which will go towards buying an AED for a family or organization in need.

We want to say a huge thank you to all of the great people at Tarpin Lumber and Mustard Seed Racing for their ongoing support. We hope to continue enjoying these action-packed weekends with such great supporters and friends.

Heart Healthy Habits for Seniors

, ,

As we grow older our daily routines tend to form the habits that we take up for the rest of our lives. Although you may have been a track star in your youth, providing you with ample opportunity to eat whatever you like, this lifestyle doesn’t work as well for your heart health as you grow older.

What you eat and drink, your activity level, how you cope with
stress and other individual lifestyle factors help determine the
health of your heart. Heart disease is a progressive condition
that can start early in life but can also be prevented or controlled by making smart lifestyle choices.

To maintain a heart healthy lifestyle you need to form healthy habits as soon as you can, while maintaining them in your daily routine. Below are some of our recommendations to keep your heart healthy.

Heart Healthy Habits

Stay Active

Exercising regularly can help you lower your blood pressure, increase your energy levels and keep your heart and bones strong. The easiest exercise being, walking. It’s affordable, accessible and simple to master.

Most research studies suggest that from three to five hours of walking a week is the optimum for improving heart health.

If you’re interested in learning about other heart healthy exercises, take a look at some of our other suggestions.

Eat a Heart Healthy Diet

Understanding what types of heart-healthy foods to incorporate into your diet can be difficult if you have never maintained a heart healthy diet. Generally you want to focus on having fresh fruits and vegetables, fiber rich foods and lean proteins, as well as foods that are low in saturated fats, sugars and salts. Here are some of our suggestions on essential foods for a heart healthy diet.

Quit Smoking

Smoking has an even greater correlation to heart disease for women than it does in men. It can be very difficult to quit smoking at any age but it is never too late. Fortunately there are many resources that you can use to help you quit today. Here are a few of resources that we’ve found to help you quit.

Reduce Your Alcohol Intake

Excess alcohol consumption can worsen health conditions that contribute to heart disease, like blood pressure, arrhythmias, and high cholesterol levels.

Have Regular Checkups With Your Doctor

If you have questions or concerns about heart disease or how to live a heart healthy lifestyle, seek advice from your cardiologist or primary caregiver. Your heart is the most important muscle in your body, so it is vital to take care of it!

 

Fruit and Veggies Month

, ,

 

As we begin the first week of September there are often many changes occurring around us. Children are heading back to school, the temperatures outside are getting lower, and days are becoming shorter. With these external changes occurring, one  that shouldn’t  is the amount of fruits and vegetables that we eat. It’s quite common to adopt an unhealthy diet as we begin to move ourselves indoors, but instead most of us should actually be eating more as about 90% of us are not getting the proper daily amount of vegetables.

For this reason, September is Fruit and Vegetables month as it aims to highlight the importance of a diet that is full of fruits and vegetables and the benefits they contribute to your health. Which vegetables and fruits are the most heart healthy though?

To help, we’ve shared below some of the best fruits and vegetables that you can have for a heart-healthy diet, as well as when they’re in season.

Heart Healthy Fruits and Vegetables

Berries

Berries such as strawberries and blueberries are believed to carry antioxidants that help to decrease blood pressure and dilate blood vessels. This is attributed to the benefit of compounds known as anthocyanins, and flavonoids.

When they’re available: 

  • Strawberries: May, June, July, August, September, and October
  • Blueberries: July, August, and September
  • Cranberries:  September,  October and November
  • Raspberries: July, August, September, and  October

Potatoes

Although potatoes can be more challenging to your heart healthy dining, if you don’t deep fry them, they can be extremely good for your heart. They’re rich in potassium and high in fibre (if the skin is left on), which again, can help lower blood pressure and the risk of heart disease.

When they’re available: year round

Tomatoes

Similar to potatoes, tomatoes are high in heart-healthy potassium. Plus they’re a good source of the antioxidant lycopene. Lycopene is a carotenoid that may help to get rid of “bad ” cholesterol, keep blood vessels open and lower heart attack risk.

When they’re available: 

  • Greenhouse: year round
  • Field: July, August, September, and October

Broccoli, Spinach and Kale

When it comes to your heart health, you can’t go wrong with vegetables. Green vegetables like broccoli, spinach or kale can give an extra boost to your heart. These are high in carotenoids, which act as antioxidants and can free your body of potentially harmful compounds. They’re also high in fibre and contain lots of vitamins and minerals.

When they’re available: 

  • Broccoli: June, July, August, September, and October
  • Spinach: May, June, July, August, September, and October
  • Kale: June, July, August, September, and October

Avocado

These soft, tasty fruits will provide your body and heart with plenty of healthy fats. They’re composed of monounsaturated fats, high in antioxidants, and also contain potassium to help lower heart disease factors.

When they’re available: (commercially) generally year round

Asparagus

One of the most important heart-healthy ingredients that are found in asparagus is vitamin B6. This vitamin can lower homocysteine, a form of amino acid that has been linked to heart disease.

When they’re available: May and June

Bell Peppers

Bell peppers contain folate, another nutrient that can reduce homocysteine.

When they’re available: 

  • Greenhouse: February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December
  • Field: July, August, September, and October

Carrots

Carrots are rich in carotenoids, which are powerful antioxidants that can combat free radicals that cause heart disease.

When they’re available: February, March, April, May,  July, August, September, October, November, and December

Garlic

Garlic contains phytochemicals that boost immunity and protect the heart against diseases.

When they’re available: February, July, August, September, October, November, and December

Onions

Onions are a rich source of sulphur-containing phytochemicals. These phytochemicals can reduce cholesterol levels, and therefore, prevent heart disease.

When they’re available: year round

If you’re interested in learning about other heart-healthy foods, check out our post on Ten Essential Foods For A Heart-Healthy Diet; And if you’d like to know when other fruits and vegetables are available, check out Foodland Ontario’s page.

The Benefits Of The Mikey Young At Heart Program

, , , ,

As students head back to school there is often a lot to occupy their time during the first few weeks of the semester. They’re catching up with friends, joining clubs, and beginning their studies. All of these activities are highly important while progressing through high school, but one that should be added is learning about how to save a life.

To help your child get back into learning mode, as well as learning about the proper procedures for saving a life, we recommend that they sign up to the Mikey Young At Heart App. Now is the perfect time to do so, as they won’t be overwhelmed with a course schedule, as well as the many other activities that occupy kids when they head back to school.

The app which was created to provide your child with an understanding of CPR procedures and how to use an AED, is taught through instructional videos that they can view at their own pace. Not only is the app easy to use, the hours accumulated on it also count towards their volunteer hours that they will need to earn during the semester.

The best part about the app is that you can access it anywhere, so whether your child is at home relaxing, or studying with friends; they can keep learning.

Don’t just take our word for how great the Mikey Young at Heart app is, ask our friend Kayley Baker, who this past year helped to save the life of an elderly man in downtown Toronto thanks to her training on the app.

I was walking in downtown Toronto on Labour Day Monday with my grandmother when we noticed people making a fuss. There was a man on the ground and he was blue in colour. Automatically I knew something was wrong!

My grandmother grabbed my backpack and I knelt down beside him to perform CPR. I got to just over 30 compressions and he started to make a wheezing noise. There were people standing around but nobody else knew how to properly perform CPR.

I knew CPR because I went through the Mikey Young At Heart App. Going through the videos and quizzes gave me the confidence to act immediately and without fear. I knew what to do and I knew if I did it, this man would have a better chance of survival.”

Learn more about Kayley’s story here.

Each year in Ontario, children and teens are among the 6,500 people who experience Sudden Cardiac Arrest. If administering CPR or an AED during an emergency like the one Kayley experienced, a person has a much higher chance of surviving. Sign up to the Mikey Young At Heart app today to learn how it can benefit your life and others.