In February 2022, the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation appealed to the community to help raise $175,000 for defibrillators and crash carts during their Kickstart Your Heart campaign. Thanks to generous community support, the goal was achieved and new crash carts and defibrillators will be in use across the hospital in early April.
The appeal was supported by local philanthropists, Conrad & Donna Huber, who pledged $100,000 in matching funds to the campaign. Local radio stations Pure Country 106 and Bounce 104.1 put their voices to the airwaves to build awareness and inspire others to join the Hubers in making a financial gift.
“We are absolutely overwhelmed with the fierce generosity that our community demonstrated during Kickstart Your Heart,” shares Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Conrad & Donna Huber, Pure Country 106 and Bounce 104.1 and everyone who contributed to raising more than $184,000 for this vital hospital equipment.”
Eleven new crash carts and eleven defibrillators arrived at GBGH in early March, and will be assembled & calibrated before staff training begins the week of March 28. Crash carts are stocked with basic airway equipment, tools for intravenous (IV) access, medications and defibrillator pads. Each crash cart also has a life-saving defibrillator mounted for immediate access, and enables the care teams to deliver high-quality CPR, provide optimal defibrillation and pacing for patients experiencing a cardiac emergency.
“The excellent team at GBGH was able to save my life with a defibrillator, and the smile on their faces when I came to is a testament to the caring professionals working in emerg,” shares Ed Shirley, GBGH grateful patient. “It made me happy as well. Thanks to generous donors, the team was able to bring me back with the necessary equipment. Anything we can do to keep the smiles on their faces, and the faces of their patients and families, is definitely worthwhile.”