Latest Coverage of The Mikey Network In the News.

View Archive

Toronto Woman Survives Cardiac Arrest Thanks to Good Samaritans and A MIKEY AED

, ,

Variety Village Mikey AED

Toronto Emergency Medical Services Safe City Program and The Mikey Network announced that a woman in her 60’s is alive today because bystanders were willing to step up to help someone in need, and a MIKEY (AED) was available when she needed it.

The woman is a Scarborough resident and regular pilates class attendee at Variety Village on Danforth Avenue.

It was 1 p.m. on April 8, 2014 and she had just finished her class and was walking to her car when she dropped to the ground having suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. Bystanders rushed to her aid, immediately called 911 for the paramedics and started cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).  The Variety Village MIKEY (automated external defibrillator – AED) was also retrieved and a life–saving shock administered before paramedics arrived to provide additional care.

The woman, in her early sixties, is now recovering in hospital.

This is the first cardiac arrest save by bystanders in the City of Toronto in 2014, and the nineteenth Mikey Network save since the program’s inception. It is also the fourth save at the Variety Village location since their  MIKEY AED was installed.

Toronto EMS Safe City Program Commander Gayle Pollock said, “It is very exciting to announce our first save of 2014 and a great reminder of the importance of bystanders stopping to help someone in medical distress.  The help the bystanders gave to this woman was a critical contribution to saving her life.”

“This is the proof that AED’s in public places can perform miracles. They are simple to use  as the AED “speaks” to the person trying to help with easy to follow step-by-step instructions. Training helps but you don’t have to be trained to use one.” said Morty Henkle, Executive Director of The Mikey Network.

AEDs save lives. That is why it is our mission at The Mikey Network to place our MIKEYS (public access defibrillators) in as many high-risk locations as possible.

 

The Mikey Network Commits to Largest Defibrillator Donation to a North American School Board

The Mikey Network’s Young At Heart program, which places MIKEY defibrillators in schools, is being expanded to the Peel District School Board, the second largest school board in Canada.

WHERE: Applewood Heights Secondary School (gym) – 945 Bloor St. E, Mississauga, ON L4Y 2M8
WHEN:  Wednesday, February 5, 2014 – 1 pm sharp
WHAT: 

  • Heathwood Homes, founder of The Mikey Network, will present a cheque for $160,000 to kick-start the first year’s Mikey Young At Heart three-year program initiative in Peel Region.
  • Peel Regional Paramedic Services will demonstrate a “live save” using a MIKEY defibrillator.
  • 12-year-old Mikey Student Ambassador, Emily Herbert, will speak about how she is benefiting from a MIKEY defibrillator.

WHO:
Peel District School Board

  • Sue Lawton, Trustee Wards 3 & 4, Peel District School Board
  • Tony Pontes, Director of Education, Peel District School Board

Peel Region

  • Dipika Damerla, MPP, Mississauga East-Cooksville
  • Hazel McCallion, Mayor, City of Mississauga

The Mikey Network

  • Hugh Heron, President, Heathwood Homes; Chairman, The Mikey Network
  • Bob Finnigan, COO Housing, The Heron Group; Director, The Mikey Network
  • Morty Henkle, Executive Director, The Mikey Network

Contacts:

tcgpr (The Communications Group Inc.)
David Eisenstadt / Gea Koleva, 416-696-9900 ext. 36 / 26
deisenstadt@tcgpr.com / gkoleva@tcgpr.com
or
Peel District School Board
Kayla Tishcoff, 905-890-1010 ext. 2239
School Communications Specialist
kayla.tishcoff@peelsb.com

AUTO|ONE GROUP RAISES $11,500 FOR THE MIKEY NETWORK

TORONTO – October 29, 2013…As part of an ongoing commitment to support The Mikey Network, the management and staff at The AUTO|ONE Group recently helped raise $11,500 from their customer appreciation ‘James Bond’ event which featured a silent and live auction event where over 400 clients, friends and family attended at their Toronto offices.

AUTO|ONE Group is one of Canada’s largest and most customer-focused sales and leasing operations, specializing in all makes, models and years of vehicles. The company also has Commercial Leasing, Custom Sourcing and Vehicle Detailing/Service facilities in Toronto and Vancouver. For more information, visit www.autoonegroup.ca.

Auto One Mikey network Donation

Shown (l-r) Kevin Ledgister, AutoIOne Palladini Sales & Leasing Vice President – Inventory & Fixed Operations; Mikey Network Chairman Hugh Heron, Executive Director Morty Henkle; and Mark Forrester, AutoIOne Palladini Sales & Leasing. (Photo: Nicola Betts)

-30-

 

ABOUT THE MIKEY NETWORK

 

The Mikey Network, founded in 2003, is a registered Canadian charity working to create public awareness and provide education about heart healthy lifestyles. To date, over 1,400 MIKEY defibrillators have been placed across Canada, and 16 lives have now been saved. The Mikey Network was named for Mike Salem, a valued partner at Heathwood Homes and The Heron Group who experienced sudden cardiac arrest and died on a golf course in 2002. Other Mikey Network programs include: Mikey’s Kids – The Mikey At Home Program, The Mikey’s Young At Heart School Defibrillator Program, Mikey On the GO, Mikey Cops Are Tops. For more information or to donate, visitwww.mikeynetwork.com.

 

 

 

Cambrige Resident is the 15th Life Saved by a Mikey Defibrillator

, ,

CAMBRIDGE, ON – APRIL 10, 2013 … The Mikey Network’s ‘MIKEY’, a public access defibrillator, has saved the life of a 47-year old Cambridge resident, Richard Goodwin, who suffered sudden cardiac arrest while exercising.

“Richard regularly exercised at the Mississauga YMCA (325 Burnhamthorpe Rd. West). Trained staff performed CPR and applied the MIKEY defibrillator.  After one shock, they were able to get a heartbeat on Mr. Goodwin, who was starting his workout, when he collapsed. He was then transported to the Credit Valley Hospital and Trillium Health Centre for treatment, and is expected to fully recover,” said Mikey Network Chairman Hugh Heron.

In 2003, the ‘MIKEY’ was one of the seven defibrillators donated to seven YMCA locations (including Mississauga) in the Greater Toronto Area.

Since its formation, The Mikey Network has trained over 11,000 people in CPR/AED and has placed more than 1,350 MIKEYs in schools, community centres, churches and synagogues, arenas, senior’s centres, sports facilities, major attraction venues, libraries and businesses.

Mikey Network Applauds Federal Government Support for Defibrillators in Community Hockey Arenas

,

NEWS RELEASE

TORONTO, February 22, 2013

The Mikey Network  has applauded Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s announcement that the Government of Canada is working with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (HSFC) to put in place Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and related training in community hockey arenas across Canada.

“Since our inception 10 years ago, we have donated about 90 MIKEY defibrillators to various hockey arenas across Canada.  In fact, in 2004 the first 3 MIKEYS were donated to Canlan Ice Sports Arenas.  We have always believed that defibs become as prominent in public places as fire extinguishers,” said Mikey Network Chairman Hugh Heron, “so we are delighted to learn of this news from the Federal Government as we continue our work to place MIKEYS, get people trained in CPR/AED and save lives.”

 

Contact:
David Eisenstadt / Rachel Yager
The Communications Group Inc.
deisenstadt@tcgpr.com / ryager@tcgpr.com
416-696-9900 ext. 36 / 0