Mayor Fedeli deems PAD program outstanding success

Mayor Fedeli awards Jean Guy Belzile, EMS Manager for the Nipissing District; Marc Picard, Project Chairman and Jim Stewart, Manager of North Bay Ambulance.

In 2005 The North Bay Professional Paramedics Association (NBPPA) and the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board teamed up to launch the project entitled "Lifeline - Every Minute is a Lifetime".

The goal was to place public access defibrillators (PADs) in community centres in the Nipissing District, which include North Bay, Astorville, Temagami, Mattawa, Sturgeon Falls and Verner.

In April of 2007 two people were successfully revived because of this project. One situation occurred at the Sturgeon Falls arena and the other at Pete Palangio Arena here in North Bay.

“To date 23 defibrillators have been placed in 23 locations. This is an amazing accomplishment to achieve in such a short time… I am honoured to present Jean Guy Belzile (EMS Manager for the Nipissing District) with the Citizens Plaque of Recognition and Achievement. Without his efforts this project would never have happened,” Mayor Fedeli said.

Belzile said he hopes to purchase and install another dozen defibrillators within a month.

“We are proud of our efforts and we plan to setup two defibrillators in East Ferris at the community and fitness centres. In addition, we would like to outfit all the high schools in the Nipissing District.”

“The Heart and Stroke Foundation has worked hard to help us with this cause. To coin their phrase this is what happens when you: Put your heart into it,” Belzile said.

Project Chairman, Marc Picard and Manager of North Bay Ambulance were also in attendance to receive a certificate for Committee Members Outstanding Recognition.

Councillor Sarah Campbell took a moment to express her gratitude.

“Thank you for all your wonderful work and dedication. You have all made a difference for the good of the people,” she said.

The initial start-up cost for a defibrillator, training and other project costs was about $8,000 per unit. However, the cost is now about $2,600 per unit.

The Lifeline project is unique in that it is the first PAD project that relies solely on fundraising.

The NBPPA website reports that as of July 2006, all eight arenas, plus some other high traffic areas have been equipped with Lifeline PADs. The Lifeline Project continues, focusing on community training and installations at other public high traffic areas, such as the North Bay Capital Centre and the North Bay Waterfront.