Media Advisory - The Frank Cowan Foundation contributes its second $1 million
to strengthen Heart and Stroke Foundation's Automated External Defibrillator
(AED) Program

Contribution will place an additional 200 AEDs and provide for AED and CPR training across Canada

OTTAWA , Dec. 8 /CNW/ -

    
    WHAT:  Announcement of a $1 million contribution from The Frank Cowan
           Foundation to the Heart&Stroke ReStart a Heart, Restart a Life(TM)
           program.

    WHEN:  Friday, December 11, 2009

           Media Arrival:      9:45 a.m.
           News Conference:   10:00 a.m.
           Photo Opportunity: 10:30 a.m.

    WHERE: Capital Region YMCA
           Gym
           180 Argyle Street
           Ottawa, Ontario
    

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

PHOTO OP No.1: Maureen Cowan , President, The Frank Cowan Foundation, Rick Purdy , President & CEO Cowan Insurance Group and Bob Proulx , Vice President Cowan Insurance Group - Ottawa Office will present a $1 million dollar cheque to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

PHOTO OP No.2: Ottawa Paramedic Service officers will demonstrate how to use an automated external defibrillator with Maureen Cowan , cardiac arrest survivors whose lives were saved by AED use, and Heart and Stroke Foundation vice chair, Irfhan Rawji.

PHOTO OP No.3: Members of the media are invited to watch a CPR demonstration with students and take home their own Heart and Stroke Foundation CPR Anytime(TM) Family and Friends(TM) Kit which allows anyone to learn CPR at home in as little as 22 minutes.

WHY: Automated External Defibrillators save lives

Up to 45,000 cardiac arrests occur each year in Canada . The odds of survival for an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest are approximately five per cent. With each passing minute the probability of survival declines by seven to 10 per cent. Using an AED, combined with CPR within the first few minutes can improve survival rates by 50 per cent or more.

The Frank Cowan Foundation contribution will ensure more Canadians have access to this life-saving tool in public places across the country.

About The Heart and Stroke Foundation

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.

About The Frank Cowan Foundation

The Frank Cowan Foundation is a charitable foundation that was activated in 1995 in honour of Frank Cowan , the company founder. The Foundation exists because of the success of the Cowan Group of Companies including Cowan Insurance Group, Frank Cowan Company, the Guarantee Company of North America and Millennium CreditRisk Management. Together they provide insurance and risk management products and services for individuals, businesses, organizations and public entities as well as assisting employers with their group benefits, retirement and health and disability management plans.

About the Heart&Stroke ReStart a Heart, Restart a Life(TM) program

The Heart&Stroke Restart a Heart, Restart a Life(TM) program is committed to increasing the number of AEDs in communities across Canada . The program focuses on increasing public awareness of the role of AEDs and encourages citizens to make a difference by learning CPR so they are able to respond to a sudden cardiac arrest emergency.

For further information: Media Inquiries: Eileen Melnick McCarthy, Heart and Stroke Foundation, T. [phone], E. [email protected]; Martin Leroux, Delta Media Inc., T. [phone], E. [email protected]