The Latest Mikey Network News

The Town of Two Hills Gets A New MIKEY

The Town of Two Hills MIKEY

Town Councillor G. Saskiw (left) and Sports Activity Council President Travis Saskiw (right) with their new MIKEY Defibrillator

In 2013, the Town of Two Hills lost their public recreational facility with a curling rink. The facility burned down due to a fire ignited by a gas meter that had broken off when heavy snow from the roof of the facility slid off and hit the meter. Everything was lost in the fire, including their Automated External Defibrillator.

Recently they opened their new Recreational Centre, and realized they needed to replace the AED unit. Unfortunately, their insurers would not cover the AED so the Town turned to The Mikey Network for help. 

We hope they never have to use their new MIKEY, but we’re glad to know it’s there if the need arises.

Government Invests $2.9 million In Heart Research Projects

Cardiac Health reasearch

This month the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Health, announced an investment of almost $2.9 million to fund five research projects that will support new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat heart disease.

The investment from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research will fund five cutting-edge research projects:

  • Dr. David Birnie received over $600,000 to conduct the first study of its kind in the world to learn more about cardiac sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease that can cause sudden death.
  • Dr. Wenbin Liang received $577,000 to study how to develop more effective therapies for treating irregular heartbeats, a condition which affects over 1 million Canadians.
  • Dr. Ruth McPherson received $263,000 to research new ways to treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which affects around 20 per cent of Canadian adults and increases the risk of heart disease.
  • Dr. Katey Rayner received almost $980,000 to study how to diagnose and treat the buildup of plaque in the arteries before a heart attack happens.
  • Dr. Benjamin Rotstein received over $462,000 to develop new imaging techniques to identify plaque buildup in arteries which have the potential to lead to heart attack or stroke.

“We are committed to supporting world-class health research in Canada, including the important work being done at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute – one of our country’s top cardiac care and research facilities.”
– The Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Health

Here are the sobering numbers: More than 1.6 million Canadians have some form of heart disease. Heart disease is the second-leading cause of death in Canada after cancer. Nine in 10 Canadians over the age of 20 have at least one risk factor for heart disease. Four in 10 have three or more risk factors. 

We would like to see more of our tax dollars invested to help the millions of Canadians affected by heart disease, but we’re encouraged to see our Government acknowledge how important it is to fund this vital research.

Quick Thinking and A MIKEY Defibrillator Saves Nobleton Man at Arena

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(Originally published in King Weekly Sentinel)
A Nobleton man has a very big reason to enjoy the holidays this year – he’s alive! Earl Keen, 56, suffered cardiac arrest during a hockey game at the Nobleton Arena on Dec. 8. He’s alive thanks to the quick actions of his teammates and a MIKEY (a public automated external defibrillator- AED).

“I’m alive, and that’s a good thing,” Keen said from his hospital bed. “The defibrillator saved my life.”

In perfect health, Keen suffered the incident after getting off the ice and resting on the bench. He said his heart didn’t settle down after his shift and he passed out. His teammates rallied around and everyone pitched in to save him.

They used the defibrillator, which also automatically calls EMS. Andre Delmas was next to Keen and he cried out for someone to call 9-1-1 and his brothers Ron and Brett ran to get the AED in the lobby. Ron said as soon as the AED made contact, it analyzed Keen’s condition and shocked him. It later said a second shock was not required. This all happened in under five minutes.

Ray Martin later said it was a combination of quick thinking, the AED, and cool heads, that saved the day.

The AED units are extremely easy to use, something that’s important when every second counts.

Jim Wall, King’s fire chief, praised Keen’s teammates who administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and used the AED located in the lobby. “It just goes to show you that someone with absolutely no training on one of these units can use them to save a life,” Wall said.

David Boyd, Nobleton’s ward councillor and a firefighter himself, said the unit was placed in the arena about 14 years ago and this was the first time it had ever been used.

“It’s amazing that it has been sitting on the wall that long just waiting to be used,” he said, noting most AEDs will never be used. “However, they’re worth every cent when you do need them.” Boyd added all the right ingredients came together for a positive outcome in this situation. A facility with an AED is likely the safest place to be during an emergency.

Chief Wall and Boyd were both involved in getting AED units placed in many public places around the township earlier this year. The initial funding to get units in local arenas was provided by The Mikey Network.

Read the full article in the King Weekly Sentinel.

 

St. Luke’s Community Centre Is A Safer Place Thanks To TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Canada

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Canada donates a MIKEY AED

Getting into the holiday spirit of giving, the franchisees at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Canada donated a MIKEY (defibrillator) to St. Luke’s Community Centre, located in Oakville.

This community centre is a non-profit organization used by a variety of groups and serves a range of ages from toddlers to seniors. They run a food assistance program, physical fitness activities, and their facility is used by several other nonprofit organizations to hold meetings and events. The centre is also connected to a church which is largely attended.

The St. Luke’s Community Centre staff are now trained on how to use the AED as well as CPR, and everyone who visits the centre is now safer thanks to the generosity of the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Canada franchisees. Our Mikey On Board partners truly are The Movers Who Care!

34th Life Saved By A MIKEY Defibrillator

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Saved By A MIKEY AED

We were just given the best type of news we can share! Another life was saved with a MIKEY (defibrillator).

We were told a man suffered cardiac arrest last week at the Greek Community Church of Toronto. Some people there were able to resuscitate him with CPR and the MIKEY.

This is the 34th life saved by a MIKEY Defibrillator

In 2011, this MIKEY was donated to the Greek Community Church of Toronto, in honor of the retirement of Jimmy Miliaris. Last week Jimmy’s legacy was honoured when the AED was used to save a life.

We are so thankful there were people willing to act in this man’s moment of need. It’s our mission to place as many life-saving MIKEY Defibrillators in public places as possible so people who suffer cardiac arrest can have a second chance at life.