An AED, short for Automated External Defibrillator, is used during cardiac events, when patients are not breathing and they do not have a pulse.
These portable medical devices can help save the life of someone experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest. It analyzes the heart’s rhythm and, if needed, delivers an electrical shock to try to restore a normal heartbeat.
They are crucial for providing life saving measures before paramedics can arrive with more advanced equipment and expertise.
Through the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation of Canada, the New Minas Volunteer Fire Department was awarded a grant of $14,295 to replace their outdated AEDs.
In 2015, Firehouse Subs opened their first Canadian restaurant, creating the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation of Canada, with the mission of providing funding, lifesaving equipment and educational opportunities for first responders.
“We’re doing more than just selling subs, with the great team we have here, they are the top fundraising location between all of our Canadian restaurants.” Proudly shared Vero Murphy one of the Franchisees owners of the New Minas Firehouse Subs location.
(Pictured are New Minas Firehouse Subs staff and owners)
Vero and her husband Daniel are the franchisee owners of the New Minas location also operating 8 locations within the Maritimes.
During every transaction, the staff behind the food from Firehouse Subs, ask customers if they are willing to donate, every time someone leaves a donation, it goes towards the foundation.
(Pictured is the donation bin and New Minas Firehouse Subs, General Manager, Jane Arenburg)
They also sell their pickle buckets, once they’re empty they’re washed and sold for $4 and all those funds also go towards the foundation. On top of these methods they also host different kinds of initiatives to raise funds to put towards these important grants.
The grants given out are directed at life saving equipment that is later approved to first responders in our communities.
(Pictured is New Minas Firefighters, Hannah Foss & Brenton Bernard with one of the five new AEDs)
Murphy shared since 2015, the Foundation has awarded 438 grants totalling over $6.3 million to public safety organizations.
Fire departments across Nova Scotia are able to apply for these grants, such as this one that New Minas Fire was awarded through the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation of Canada.
“This grant means we can replace several of our aging AEDs at our fire hall and allow us to put these devices on our front-line trucks.” Shared New Minas Fire Chief, Jim Redmond.
Redmond also touched on how important receiving this grant was, by saving the department from financing these devices over a duration of years.
For many, they might not understand how important it is to have an AED on a front-line fire apparatus but for those who sit in these very seats, they do.
Not only are firefighters responding to patients who might need an AED, it’s also important for the firefighters who are on scene, who are at a higher risk of cardiac events.
Firefighters are regularly in remote locations, far from civilization and doing work that makes their body work harder than the average person.
Having these devices stationed within their hall where community members frequent and also on their apparatus where they are working, is crucial for their safety and also the public they work to protect each day!
Local first responders can apply for grants twice a year and could potentially be awarded a grant to put towards equipment for their communities!
Fire departments across Nova Scotia are encouraged to apply, applications are reviewed and approved by the board based on the information.
You can visit the website to learn more about applying and also donating at the link attached below 👇
https://firehousesubsfoundation.ca/
Congratulations to New Minas Fire and great work by our local staff and owners from Firehouse Subs in New Minas!
Adrian J.
