I would like to highlight an event I came across at work.  Its called Canada’s 911 Ride and its a group of motorcycling enthusiasts that organize a ride throughout Ontario raising funds for charities.  The charities they supported in 2011 are The Mikey Network, The Soldier On Program, families of fallen emergency service workers, the family of Cst. Garrett Styles & children of violent crimes.  Last year they raised over $50,000 for those charities and placed defibrillators at : Guelph General Hospital, Stratford Sports Complex, Puslinch Community Center, 2 units in the town of Listowel, Toronto Zoo, Seniors Church Center & Sgt. Ryan Russell’s High school.

I think it would be obvious that this would be an event close to me but why would you want to know about it?  First of all and quite simply public access defibrillators SAVE LIVES!  I haven’t heard of someone yet that has heard a story or had a family member that has been saved by Defib.  In a cardiac arrest the keys to survival are early CPR and early defribrillation.  I’ll save the importance of every single person learning CPR for a future post.  But the more Defibs we can get out there the more lives that will be saved!  So far the Mikey Network has distributed 1200 defibrillators across Canada and Mikey Defibrillators have saved 14 lives.  For the visual people out there here is a map of all the locations they had all been placed.  Second there are thousands or Canadian Forces personnel that put their lives on the line for our freedom and the freedom of others.  Some of them get injured in the process.  I believe we all have a duty to take care of those members when they return.  It can only be a small sacrifice compared to the sacrifice they make for the rest of us.  Third of all they may be travelling through your area and some of your streets may be blocked for a brief period of time.  A minor inconvenience for such a huge endeavor.

So if you happen to be in an area where these bikes are passing though go out, take your kids with you and give them a wave, stop and give them room, don’t complain as your current road is blocked by a police car for a few mins.  They’re out there raising money to potentially save one of your family members or friends lives. 🙂