Cardiac arrest does not care how old you are. People have been saved using a MIKEY (AED), from infants to seniors.
Here are some of their stories …

Sharon McConnell and Sean King Save Student's Life with a MIKEY AED

Silverthorn Collegiate teachers Sharon McConnell and Sean King saved a student’s life with a MIKEY.

In an amazing case of serendipity, Sean King was teaching his 9th Grade class CPR, when he noticed fellow teacher Sharon McConnell cradling a Grade 12 basketball player whose heart had stopped.

The two teachers used a MIKEY defibrillator and CPR to restore the teen’s pulse before emergency crews arrived.  The young man is currently recovering.

The Toronto Star reports Toronto’s Emergency Medical Services has nominated both teachers as well as hall monitor Linda Armstrong and vice-principal Tim Brethour for EMS Citizens’ awards for quick thinking in fetching the defibrillator, calling 911 and delaying the bell between classes so emergency crews could wheel out the stretcher without having to battle crowds.

Read the full Toronto Star story here.

You can see video of City News coverage of the story here:
Teachers at Silverthorn Collegiate Institute helped save the life of a student with a MIKEY.

Hero teachers save student's life with a MIKEY

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Mikey Network has placed 120 defibrillators in schools through our Mikey Young At Heart School Defibrillator Program

Photo Credit: Toronto Star SUPPLIED PHOTOS
Mikey defibrillator used to save GO passenger

Derek Thompson used a Mikey to rescue a man having a cardiac arrest. Photo Credit: JOSH TAPPER/TORONTO STAR

As the GO train pulled in to Union Station, George Koshil, who had been scheduled for coronary artery bypass surgery in late October, collapsed and went into cardiac arrest on Platform 12.

Lucky for him, GO customer service ambassador Derek Thompson was there.  After Koshil stopped breathing, Thompson fastened a Mikey (portable Automated External Defibrillator) to Koshil’s chest and hit the button. He then performed CPR before Koshil coughed and started breathing.  Paramedics arrived soon after and rushed Koshil to St. Michael’s Hospital.

According to one passenger who contacted GO to commend Derek Thompson,

 “The [CSA] appeared to be calm, in control and fully trained for the incident.  He used the defibrillator (I think twice) and administered chest compression, as well as mouth to mouth.  The last thing I saw was the man breathing.  I don’t know if the elderly man survived but high praise to the [CSA] who worked hard in reviving the man.  …  I am glad to see that the staff at GO transit is fully trained in emergencies and that they care!”

George Koshil is recovering well after surgery.

The MIKEY used was one of 100 Defibrillators placed throughout the GO Transit network as part of the Mikey On the GO program.

MIKEY defibrilatorEarlier this month, we received a letter that touched all of our hearts.  It was the kind of happy news we love to get here at The Mikey Network.  We wanted to share it with you, the Mikey family,  because you make this happen.  Your support allows us to place MIKEYs (AEDs) where they are needed.  Your support saves lives.

We also want to congratulate the staff at  Stronach Aurora Recreation Complex for the way they handled this emergency.  You are truly heros!

Here is the letter, reprinted with permission:

 

Hello Mikey Network!

I wanted to share my story with you and say thank you, since the Mikey Network has put several AED units in the Town of Aurora facilities including the one specifically at the Stronach Aurora Recreation Complex.

On Monday August 8, 2011 we performed CPR on a woman approximately 65 years old from the Cobblestone Retirement Lodge in Aurora who was attending a leisure swim at 2pm at the Stronach Aurora Recreation Complex pool.  The lady came in complaining of thirst before the swim started.  When the lifeguard checked on her 15 minutes later she said she still felt unwell, was having difficultly breathing and was holding her chest.

The Lifeguard removed her from the pool and took her to the lifeguard office where she transferred her care to two other lifeguards on off duty rotation.  They assessed her, checked pulse and approximately 10 minutes later she started to have what appeared to be a seizure with no history of seizure disorder.  She collapsed, they placed her on the floor, checked breathing and pulse and determined she was VSA.  They started CPR, another lifeguard activated EMS.   My full time Deck Supervisor notified the aquatic staff to clear the pool and he then ran to get the AED unit off the wall and notified me on the way as my office is located right beside the AED unit.

Meanwhile the two lifeguards only got to 15 compressions and the lady came to.  They monitored her breathing and pulse and kept her airway open.  They had just stopped CPR when my FT staff and I arrived on scene in the lifeguard office.  I passed out gloves to all my staff and I applied the AED pads to the patient and the unit immediately assessed the victim.  It told us, “No Shock Advised” and to start CPR (which I thought was odd, because the patient was awake), but almost instantly she went unconscious, staff assessed Nonbreathing/No Pulse and started CPR, my full time staff person gave her only 5 compressions and she came to again.

She starting speaking to me at that point and was coherent, giving us emergency contact information of her brother including his phone number while the unit completed another analysis.  A few minutes later she went unconscious again for the third time, we checked breathing and I started compressions giving her approximately 12 compressions before she came to again, approximately 1 minute later EMS arrived on scene and took over care.

She was transported to South Lake Regional Hospital, and was released that evening at 8:30pm!!! Can you believe it? 
My staff were amazing, it was a very busy leisure swim, with almost 200 people in the pool.  
All have returned back to work and are thrilled by the outcome.


Our thanks goes to the Mikey Network, because it’s not everyday that one gets the privilege to save another persons life!

Loriann Ierullo
Aquatic Supervisor
Parks and Recreation Services
Town of Aurora

 

Thank you again to Lorainn and her staff for their heroic action, and for reminding us that  “it’s not everyday that one gets the privilege to save another persons life!”

On December 3, 2010, 14 year-old Danny Wu was swimming in the pool at Harbord Collegiate Institue during a grade 10 boys’ gym class. His classmates, Ben Claytor and Ruben Jofre, noticed  him in distress and went into action. They held him up in the shallow end of the pool until lifeguard Joe Faria and teacher Bryan Gurney came to assist.

Suddenly Danny stopped breathing. CPR was administered and 911 was called. Vice-principal Janice Gladstone quickly got the Mikey Defibrillator that was onsite through the Mikey Young At Heart program, and brought it to the pool. The defibrillator was used and Danny was revived.

EMS arrived soon after the 911 call and they also used the MIKEY. Once Danny was stabilized, he was brought to the Hospital for Sick Kids, where he would remain in the Intensive Care Unit for several days.

“The response from our students and teachers was exceptional, particularly the efforts of our life guard, physical education teacher and the two students who initially jumped to action,” said principal Rodrigo Fuentes.

Danny’s classmates and teachers were happy and relieved to hear about his progress and ecstatic when the grade 10 student finally returned to school on December 16.

In this video, Danny Wu and Vice-principal Janice Gladstone talk about what happened that day in their own words.

To date, over 200 AEDs, which we call MIKEYs, have been placed in schools including the Toronto District School Board, Halton District School Board, Halton Catholic District School Board and Limestone District School Board. More importantly, 3 students have a second chance at life because a MIKEY was available when they needed it most.

 

From the Oakville Beaver, July 2, 2010

Swift action saved man’s life

Grateful heart attack victim returns to thank YMCA staff

Bernd Krumme, saved by MIKEY defibrillator

Bernd Krumme (right) embraces YMCA fitness trainer Nestor Granados, who helped save his life after Krumme suffered a heart attack in the fitness centre last week. Granados, along with YMCA staff members Sara Pearson and Bill Joyce, kept Krumme alive until paramedics arrived. Michelle Siu / Oakville Beaver

The quick actions of three Oakville YMCA staff members are being credited with saving the life of a member, who suffered a severe heart attack at the 410 Rebecca St., facility last week.

Bernd Krumme, 46, had gone to the Oakville YMCA, when it opened at 5:30 a.m. on June 23, to sneak in a quick workout before beginning his day.

“As soon as I went on one of the cardio machines, I blacked out. I had a massive heart attack,” said Krumme. “Didn’t feel it coming at all.”

Someone saw Krumme collapse and alerted staff members Nestor Granados and Bill Joyce. They rushed into the gym to help Krumme, who was not breathing. His heart had stopped.

Granados assessed the unconscious Krumme and instructed Joyce to get the Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) the YMCA had on the premises.

Granados also began CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), while Joyce got the AED and called 911.

Upon Joyce’s return, the two took turns conducting CPR on Krumme with the aid of YMCA staff member Sara Pearson, who helped set up the AED and did the breathing portion of the CPR, while the other two did portion of the CPR, while the other two did the compressions.

The AED and the CPR conducted by the staff members kept Krumme alive until paramedics arrived and took him to hospital.

“It was scary,” said Granados, reflecting on the incident. “It felt like forever before Bill came back and helped me out because he was stuck on the phone. I was very nervous, scared, but everything worked out the way it did and I’m just grateful to see him (Krumme) up and walking.”

Later, at the hospital, Krumme was shocked to learn he had a heart attack because he exercises regularly and eats healthy.

He was also astounded by the actions the YMCA staff took to save his life.

On Wednesday, one week after his heart attack, Krumme returned to the Oakville YMCA with his wife Samantha and two children Matheus, 8, and Max, 5, to offer his thanks.

After entering the building, Krumme received a round of applause from the YMCA staff, who had assembled to greet him.  However, Krumme said it was the staff members who helped him, particularly Granados, who deserved the applause.

“It’s so emotional. I thought a lot about Nestor and about the others, but Nestor did the main job in this lifesaving ordeal and I thought a lot about that,” said Krumme. “I wouldn’t be here today without him. I totally owe him my life and my children owe him their dad.”

After seeing Granados, Joyce and Pearson for the first time since his heart attack, Krumme embraced each one and presented them with tokens of his thanks.

This included an official World Cup ball for Granados — a huge soccer fan.

When asked about the incident, Pearson and the others credited their training for allowing them to respond so quickly without hesitation.

“As a lifeguard, I had the training and I was ready, I knew what to do as soon as I got there,” said Pearson. “I knew how to help, I didn’t have to think I just did it.”

Oakville YMCA President and CEO Darryl McKenzie expressed pride in the actions of his staff that day.

“They had a very prompt and professional response that went well beyond what we would expect our staff to do. We’re glad we were able to have defibrillators onsite. It reinforces the importance of keeping our staff trained and certified and practicing these sorts of scenarios so when an incident like this happens we are able to respond appropriately,” said McKenzie.

“We’re just very happy there has been positive outcome for our member and we look forward to seeing him recover and come back and continue to work out at the YMCA on a regular basis.”

The Mikey Network works to promote heart healthy lifestyles. We are committed to placing “MIKEYs” (Automatic External Defibrillators) in high-risk locations to help people affected by sudden cardiac arrest.