Hockey Day in Canada turns out to be a lifesaver in Portage la Prairie
September 30, 2007 saw the culmination of a tremendous amount of teamwork by BDO, the City of Portage la Prairie Recreation Department, and the Regional Health Authority. City Councilor Janet Shindle and BDO Partner Mark Verwey introduced the audience to the Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) unit that is now installed at the Centennial Arena during a short presentation at centre ice prior to a Terrier Hockey Club game.
While looking for a unique and special contribution to our community, Mark saw Ron McLean extol the virtues of AED units during the Hockey Day in Canada special on CBC. He immediately thought that this might be just the right venture to pursue. Mark contacted the City of Portage Recreation Department to gather interest, and a committee was quickly assembled to explore purchasing a unit for the city. Everyone took the idea to heart, and once approved by the City of Portage Council, plans were underway to make the purchase.
Working together with the Regional Health Authority and Medical Director, a policy was created for the implementation, maintenance and the training required for the AED unit. This policy includes principles outlined in the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Manitoba’s AED guidelines, which recognizes the importance of early defibrillation to increasing survival. The policy created will be used as a blueprint for other communities to use, so that these units might be available in recreation facilities across Manitoba and Canada.
Taking a lead role in the development of such an important life saving program has proven to be a rewarding project for everyone involved – and has provided a blueprint for other offices and communities to do the same.
