The Latest Mikey Network News

Where Can I Find a Defibrillator in an Emergency?

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November is CPR month in Canada and many organizations are doing their part to help educate Canadians on how to properly respond to emergency situations. Knowing how to do so is important, as emergencies where CPR is required, has a vastly better outcome if there are bystanders actively performing CPR, rather than waiting for help to come.

In the cases of Sudden Cardiac Arrest the chances of being saved increase even more if you are using an AED or a defibrillator, like our MIKEY’s. These aren’t always as easy to find though as they’re primarily set up in locations that large numbers of people frequent, like hockey rinks or schools. It’s important to have them available in locations like these as they’re so often frequented by the public, but because these locations are so big, they can often be difficult to find.

To help you know where AED’s are, we encourage you to check out the Ontario Registry which indicates where an AED is closest to you in the province (If you don’t live in Ontario, we encourage you to check if your province has an up to date registry). Although the registry has many AED’s added, it doesn’t have them all. So, we encourage you to always keep an eye out when entering a large location so that you know where to find one in case of an emergency.

St.John’s Ambulance

We also recommend a newer tool from our friends at the St.John’s Ambulance. They have partnered with AEDMAP to create an app the shares the location of AED’s throughout Canada. It utilizes google maps and indicates where AED’s are in proximity to your location.

Fortunately, we have a pretty good grasp of all of the locations that our MIKEY’s are housed. We have 100 MIKEY’s placed in GO stations in and around the GTA, a MIKEY on every one of TWO MEN AND A TRUCKS® moving trucks, and a full list of MIKEY’s that we’ve donated to families, schools and organizations from all over the world.

Connect with us on our social channels, and let us know where you’ve seen a MIKEY!

Get Trained in Saving a Life During CPR Month

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November is CPR Month in Canada and various organizations  are aiming to highlight the need for Canadians to know the proper procedures for resuscitating someone in an emergency situation.

The importance of knowing how to perform CPR is more important than ever, as each year 23,000 lives are taken because of heart attacks and cardiac arrest. Heart attacks may sometimes lead to cardiac arrest, a condition in which a person stops breathing and their heart stops pumping blood.

Fortunately for Canadians that are interested in learning how to save a life, there are many resources available that can teach you the proper procedures. We’ve composed some of these helpful resources into a list below.

CPR Resources

The Mikey Young at Heart App

The free app which was created to provide high school students 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. Don’t worry if you’re not in school, the app can be used by anyone.

Download the app today to learn more.

Learn How To Maintain an AED

When using an AED, 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.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. Follow the link here to learn how to properly maintain an AED. Click here to download our checklist and manual.

The St. Johns Ambulance

The National organization has been a stalwart for CPR information throughout Canada since their inception in 1883. They offer various courses depending on type of first aid training certifications that participants are looking for. They also act as a great source for any first aid guidelines and industry information as they are seen across Canada as the experts in certifications for first responders.

 The Heart and Stroke Foundation

The organization which gathers funding and organizes studies in the areas of heart and stroke, is a great resource for information on how to respond to emergency situations. On their site they have short videos on how to react to a cardiac arrest, or how to use an AED; as well as some nice promotional materials that are downloadable and can be hung up in your workplace, school or home.

If you’re aware of another resource that you think is valuable, please feel free to let us know. Take the steps today, that can help save a life tomorrow.

How Much Do You Know About Heart Health?

It seems quite simple how we go into maintaining our heart health. Everything ranging from eating a nutritious diet of whole foods and exercising regularly to reduce stress is steps we take for the benefit of our overall health. But how much do you really know about what’s bad for you?

Smoking

Although a more obvious one, it’s easy to tell yourself you’ll try it once at a social gathering or buy a pack when you’re going through the motions. Don’t start! It’s a quick and temporary fix, but it’s not easy to quit. The damage from smoking reaches beyond the lungs and into your arteries. Smoking also presents a higher risk of blood clots and lowers the supply of oxygen needed for all your vital organs to function properly.

Lack of sleep

Sleep is a luxury and you deserve it! It’s a critical time for your body and mind to heal. Inconsistent or poor sleep can result in high blood pressure, increase your risk of diabetes, and depression. If you’re snoring, it’s a red flag that could be linked to a variety of cardiac issues so make sure you’re seeking professional help.

Sitting for extended periods of time

Being inactive for a long time could cause poor blood circulation which could disrupt your focus at work. Try standing desks or take a quick walk break to get the blood flowing again.

Unhealthy snacking

Many of us have succumbed to indulging on salty chips and sugary cookies. The heavy calories and lack of nutrition in these foods will manifest over time if you overdo it, which is very easy to do. From increased cholesterol to straining your heart by making it work harder, it’s important to be aware of your lifestyle and food choices.

What things are you aware of that’s getting in the way of maintaining a healthy heart? Please share in the comments!

How to Stay Active During the Fall/Winter

As we enter the winter months, everything begins to slow down around us. Activities that used to take no time at all can become more of a chore. Even something as simple as going out requires you to put on multiple layers of clothing to keep yourself warm.

Although being outside can be tough, it isn’t all bad. It can actually be one of the best times of the year to go out and exercise. Activities like running in cold weather force the heart to work harder to distribute the blood in the body, which can actually make heart muscles stronger. Although that is the case, we only recommend Strenuous activities like running to already active people, not to those who are inactive or recovering from a heart attack or cardiac arrest.  Strenuous activity like running or snow shovelling during the winter can be very dangerous to individuals who are not used to regular physical activity.

To help distinguish what exercises you should do during the winter, we have compiled tips for active and inactive people.

Helpful tips for people with a heart illness or who are inactive

If you’re someone who has recently suffered from some sort of heart illness, first and foremost we recommend speaking with your doctor about an exercise plan. They know your health condition the best and will be able to recommend proper exercises for you as you transition back into a normal routine.

For inactive people or those who are recovering from a heart illness, we recommend beginning with some form of aerobic exercise to get your heart and lungs active again. Start slowly, and work your way up. Exercises such as swimming, light jogging or walking three to four times a week can be beneficial to you building up your heart muscles.

During the winter, we recommend walking to be your primary outdoor activity. It’s the easiest exercise to transition into and will allow you to slowly build up your aerobic activity.

As you adapt to exercising, begin trying more intensive forms of exercise.  This may require you to perform exercises indoors until you’re strong enough to do more outdoors.

Indoor exercises/sports to build up your strength

  • Curling
  • Chest stretches
  • Wall presses
  • Step-ups
  • Light-weight lifting
  • Swimming
  • Yoga
  • Long Walks with friends or family

Tips for active people exercising outdoors

There are many benefits to working out outside during the winter. The main being, that you’ll strengthen your heart. You’ll also burn more calories, build a stronger tolerance to the cold and get a healthy dose of vitamin D.

There’s no shortage of activities/sports to do outdoors during the winter, but here are some of the most popular ones.

  • Hockey
  • Skiing
  • Cross-country skiing
  • Snowshoeing
  • Hiking
  • Running

Although there are many benefits to exercising outdoors there are a number of factors that you should consider as well.

Factors to consider when exercising outdoors

Proper clothes

Dressing to workout in the winter can be difficult initially, but it’s all about finding the right materials that will help to keep you be comfortable. We recommend layering your clothes with moisture-wick fabrics that will help keep your body at a healthy temperature. The best items of clothing are the ones that will work to keep you warm but will also allow you to cool down. An example would be a jacket that has air flaps that can also be sealed back up with a zipper.

Staying hydrated

It’s one of the most important things to consider when exercising outdoors. Although it may seem like you’re not losing much sweat compared to when you workout in the summer, the sweat on your body evaporates at a very quick rate in the dry winter air. To prevent this make sure to drink water before, during and after cold-weather workouts to stay hydrated.

Warming up and cooling down

Properly warming up and cooling down should already be a part of your workout, but it’s even more important when it’s cold outside. You need to engage, warm-up and energize your muscles before your workout. You want to make sure that you’re keeping your core body temperature elevated. Doing this also helps to prevent injuries from occurring like painful twists, sprains, and tears during your workout.

Do you have some tips that you’d like to share? Leave your suggestions in the comments or reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Hit That Snooze Button – How Napping can Help Your Heart Health

We’ve all been there. You were out late last night with friends so you’re already feeling a little tired – on top of that you’ve just gotten home from running a bunch of errands. Why shouldn’t you take a few minutes to nap and rest up?

Unfortunately, many of us see napping as a lazy habit; and even if we don’t, there can be a feeling of guilt from others about how you’re taking time away from them or that you don’t “need” the extra rest, “You’re just being lazy.”

Although these associations of being lazy can be true if you nap every single day, new research from the University Hospital of Lausanne, Switzerland has recently published findings in Heart, indicating that there is a correlation between napping frequency, duration and the risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular disease complications. The researchers tracked 3,462 people between the ages of 35 and 75 for nearly eight years and found that those who napped once or twice a week, for between five minutes to an hour, were 48 percent less likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or heart failure, compared to non-nappers.

“Subjects who nap once or twice per week have a lower risk of incident CVD (cardiovascular disease) events, while no association was found for more frequent napping or napping duration,” the authors wrote.

Although this information was of interest to those of us who like to take a siesta once in a while, the study was an observational one. Meaning, that it only allowed researchers to identify patterns rather than determine a cause and effect. There will need to be further studying to determine if this can be beneficial.

So, for now, just enjoy a little nap here or there, while the research unfolds.