Results that save lives

How big hearts can make a big difference.

Traci Wells was waiting in line for coffee when she suddenly collapsed to the floor. Her jaw locked, she turned blue and her heart stopped beating - for four minutes. For every minute without a heartbeat, her chance of survival was decreased by 7% to 10%.

Luckily, bystanders called for 9-1-1, began CPR and ran to alert the Corporate Medical Centre, which had an AED. After two shocks Traci’s heart began beating again, a few minutes before the ambulance arrived. “I am here today because the people around me had the courage to act and were able to use an AED in my workplace to save my life.”

Combining use of an AED with CPR can increase the chance of survival by up to 75%. Thanks to people like you, we’re able to put AEDs and trained staff in more places. Together, we’re helping Canadians live longer, fuller lives. For more information about AEDs and their role in the chain of survival, visit us at: heartandstroke.ca/restart

How individual fundraising efforts can make a big difference:

$40 can teach an entire family how to save a life with CPR.

$100 can teach three classrooms of children the foundation for heart-healthy living with the HeartSmart Kids program.

$500 can help administer an Automated External Defibrillator training course that could save lives.

$1,000 can equip a doctor with a blood pressure monitor to help keep patients healthy.

How the efforts of Big Bike teams help hearts in a very big way:

$2,000 can help researchers hire the summer research assistants that are critical to a research study's success.

$4,000 can place an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) in a community centre or hockey arena, which can increase a cardiac arrest survival rate dramatically.

$5,000 can provide a life-saving Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and training to a community centre or hockey arena.

$6,000 can train a future medical researcher, which is vital to improving heart health and heart medicine.

$10,000 supports advocacy efforts that lead to legislation on important heart-health issues like smoking, trans fats and AEDs.

$15,000 could fund programs that mentor students in medical research.