Quick-thinking bystanders use CPR and an AED to save the life of an NHL player in Owen Sound

TORONTO, July 5, 2012 /CNW/ - On Monday, July 2 a save of a different kind was made at the Owen Sound Recreation Centre.

Phoenix Coyotes forward Brett MacLean was playing a game of pick-up hockey when he suddenly collapsed. Bystanders Jay Forsland, Jason Gallager and Jason Silverthorn immediately called 9-1-1, started cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and retrieved the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) that was on site.

When paramedics arrived on the scene they took over care of the 23-year-old hockey player and continued CPR and defibrillation until a pulse was regained. Paramedics delivered care and treatment enroute to the hospital.  The patient is currently recovering in hospital.

The placement of the AED at the Owen Sound Recreation Centre and training of staff was made possible through a generous donation by Mr. Richard Rooney, as well as the Heart and Stroke Foundation's Restart a Heart, a Life Program™, the Chase McEachern Tribute Fund and the County of Grey Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) Program.

Thanks to our partners the Heart and Stroke Foundation has deployed over 3,000 AED units in communities across the province saving 39 lives to date.

"This life saved is a testament to what happens when community members learn CPR and use an AED when it is within reach," says Andrew Lotto, Manager, Resuscitation Programs, Heart and Stroke Foundation. "With continued support of the public, community groups and funding partners one day AEDs will be as commonplace as fire extinguishers in Ontario, to save lives."

When a person is in cardiac arrest, seconds count. When CPR is combined with the use of an AED in those early minutes, an individual's chance of surviving a cardiac arrest increases to up to 75%. Without CPR and defibrillation, fewer than five per cent of people who have a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital survive. "The statistics tell a compelling story," added Lotto. "CPR and AEDs absolutely save lives, and Ontarians can help us to save more lives by using these simple and effective tools to combat cardiac arrest."

Grey County EMS Quality Assurance Manager, Wendy Bieman said that "the quick actions of bystanders and the use of an AED resulted in this save."

Grey County EMS has installed 67 AEDs throughout Grey County with another 37 to be put in later this summer. The Grey County EMS PAD Program has been in place for five years and this is the second time an AED has been used by community members in the county to save a life.

The new CPR guidelines stress early recognition, urging people to call 9-1-1 or their local emergency number if they ever find someone collapsed and unresponsive, and not  to delay by 'looking, listening and feeling' for breathing or pulse. They also recommend that instead of trying to remember how many compressions and how many breaths, bystanders doing CPR simply "push hard and push fast" on the centre of the chest.

The Foundation recommends that all Canadians learn the life-saving skills of CPR and review this knowledge often. Learning and reviewing CPR skills has been made much easier with an at-home video kit, the Heart and Stroke CPR Anytime^TM  for Family and Friends^TM. The kit teaches the basic skills of CPR in as little as 22 minutes. Visit http://www.cpranytime.ca to order yours today!

The Heart and Stroke Foundation, a volunteer-based health charity, leads in eliminating heart disease and stroke and reducing their impact through the advancement of research and its application, the promotion of healthy living, and advocacy. (heartandstroke.ca)

For further information:

Reena Kudhail
Communications Specialist, Resuscitation Programs
Heart and Stroke Foundation
416-489-7111 ext. 736
[e-mail]