Mikey Programs

The Mikey Network works to promote heart healthy lifestyles, and is committed to placing MIKEYs (AEDs) in high-risk locations to help people affected by sudden cardiac arrest. We have a number of programs that provide education, training, and of course life-saving MIKEYs, in as many high-risk, high-need locations as possible.

chart of Mikey Network programs

Mikey Young At Heart – The School Defibrillator Program

As we all know our children are our future. We love them,we cherish them,and we will do everything in our power to make sure they grow up healthy and strong.

Yet, as much as we try to protect them, even the young can develop unexpected heart problems. Indeed, there are no age barriers to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), which can happen to anyone,at any time, in any location. Each year in Ontario, children and teens are among the more than 6,500 people who experience SCA. Fortunately, there’s hope for a second chance at life for many of those who do.

In 2006, Dr. Joel Kirsh, the chief physician in Cardiology and Critical Care and an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at SickKids® Hospital, called Morty Henkle, Director of The Mikey Network to talk about a way to place defibrillators in schools across the GTA. Considering it an investment in Canada’s future, we launched The Mikey’s Young-At-Heart School Defibrillator Program.

The MIKEY’s installed under this program are available to hundreds of high school and continuing education students, their teachers and school staff. The life-saving potential is even greater when you consider that schools form the heart of our communities.

MIKEYS will also benefit all of the individuals and neighbourhood groups who regularly attend meetings, play sports,vote at their local polling stations, and participate in other special events held on school property.

To date, over 200 MIKEYS have been placed in schools including the Toronto District School Board, Halton District School Board, Halton Catholic District School Board and Limestome Disrtict Schoolboard. More importantly, 3 students have a second chance at life because a MIKEY was available when they needed it most.

Mikey’s Kids – The Mikey At Home Program

The Mikey Network has developed the Mikey’s Kids – Mikey at Home Program to allow children who have been diagnosed with a heart disease to go home when they would otherwise have to stay in the hospital. These children would not be able to be discharged from the hospital without receiving a MIKEY defibrillator unit.

SickKids Hospital is an important partner in the initiative. “The Mikey’s Kids Mikey-at-Home program ensures that families from all parts of Ontario, whose children have life-threatening heart conditions, have access to life-saving AED technology,” says Dr. Joel Kirsh. “This provides high-risk patients, their families and their medical team at SickKids wonderful piece of mind.”

The peace of mind these MIKEYs provide for families is priceless, knowing that should their child’s heart skip a beat, life-saving help is close at hand.

To date, 80 families have received life-saving MIKEY defibrillators through The Mikey’s Kids Program.

Mikey On Board

The Mikey On Board Program is an initiative that provides training and places mobile MIKEY defibrillator units in vehicles that travel throughout local communities on a regular basis, including transport and moving companies.

In early 2012, this program was launched with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK_® CANADA to place MIKEYs on all of the company’s moving trucks, and to train the drivers and movers in their use. Another innovative partner is Durham Radio, which has equipped its event cruisers with MIKEYs – a first in Canada.

“When you consider the physical nature of moving, it makes sense to have defibrillators on trucks, in case the movers or families involved in a move have a problem. But the advantage goes far beyond that. Moving trucks circulate throughout the community. So vehicles carrying a MIKEY also carry a second chance at life for people who might experience sudden cardiac arrest.” says Mikey Network Chairman, Hugh Heron.

Mikey On the GO

The Mikey Network partnered with GO Transit and the Toronto EMS Cardiac Safe City program, to help “The Beat Go On” by introducing MIKEY defibrillators across Go Transit’s extensive network, on board GO Trains and at GO stations.

GO Transit carries thousands of passengers each day, and having easy-to-access defibrillators on board is another way GO is putting the safety of its passengers first. GO was the first transit system in the Greater Toronto Area to equip its vehicles and facilities with MIKEY defibrillators.

100 MIKEYS have been placed through our Mikey on the GO program, and they have already been put to good use saving lives.

Mikey Cops Are Tops

The Mikey Network is proud to help the brave men and women of the Toronto Police Service by offering a second chance at life to those who experience sudden cardiac arrest.

No one knows better than police officers how quickly the unexpected can happen, and how fleeting life can be when it does. The Toronto Police Service (TPS) is a critical partner in helping The Mikey Network save lives.

It is our honour to donate MIKEY defibrillators to the Toronto Police Services, Provincial Courts and Collision Centres, as part of our Mikey Cops Are Tops program.

To date, approximately 60 MIKEYS have been donated through our Mikey Cops Are Tops program.

Mikey Goes To Camp

Sending your kids to camp is an annual experience for many Canadian parents. At the same time they can’t help but worry about them being away – often out in a rather remote location – and how long it might take an ambulance to arrive if a medical emergency should happen.

Now, everyone at camp can feel more comfortable knowing that a MIKEY defibrillator is close at hand. The Mikey Network is working to save lives by putting MIKEY AEDs in as many high-risk locations as possible, and now we are making it even easier for Camps to get a MIKEY.