April 18, 2006
Contact: Sue Baker
For Immediate Release
738-2000
Avedisian, Spinale announce creation of Kent Heart Safe Foundation
WARWICK – Mayor Scott Avedisian and Dr. Joseph Spinale, a cardiologist and chairman of the Warwick Heart Safe Task Force, today announced the creation of the Kent Heart Safe Foundation and the members of its board of trustees.
“The Kent Heart Safe Foundation will be the leading organization in our efforts to increase public awareness of the vital role that CPR and automatic external defibrillators play in increasing the chance of survival during an incidence of sudden cardiac arrest,” Avedisian said.
Foundation’s mission will be to promote public awareness, AED registry and purchasing, advocacy and fundraising, Spinale said. “Right now about 100 residents die of sudden cardiac arrest annually in the city. When all of the task force recommendations are in full effect we will save many lives in Warwick each and every year.”
“Our goal is to increase the number of AEDs available in public places, such as recreational facilities, schools, businesses and auditoriums and to provide training through physician participation, Kent Hospital and a Heart Safe Community Campaign,” he said.
Kent Hospital, which has been one of the city’s strongest community partners in promoting innovative and comprehensive health care services and programs, will play an important role in the Foundation’s efforts.
“ Kent Hospital is pleased to partner with the City of Warwick in this life-saving initiative,” said Brian Wallin, Kent’s vice president for marketing and public relations. “As the state’s largest community hospital, and a major medical resource to central and southern Rhode Island, we recognize improvement of health status as a vital aspect of our mission. We support the importance of increased awareness and the availability of more community-based first responders certified in CPR and AED.
In addition to Spinale and Avedisian, the Foundation’s board of trustees includes: Paul McKenney, MD, of Kent Hospital; Denise Bezila, a registered nurse at Kent; Steve Aiello of the Kent County YMCA; Jeffrey C. Johnson, vice president of community relations for The Beacon Mutual Insurance Company; Lauren Slocum, president and CEO of the Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce; Dave Kurowski, EMS coordinator of the Warwick Fire Department; Warwick resident and Fire Department Captain Bruce Cooley; Dr. Robert Dinwoodie, director of Kent’s Emergency Department; and Jan Caianiello, RN a Warwick resident and a nurse in Kent Hospital’s extended coronary care unit.
Establishing a Heart Safe Foundation was one of the recommendations made by the Warwick Heart Safe Task Force, which Avedisian created by executive order last fall to review and assess the community’s current response to SCA; the availability of CPR trained personnel within Warwick; current automatic external defibrillator (AED) availability and future need; implementation of future Department of Health “Heart Safe Community” criteria and to make recommendations for community training in CPR/AED use and funding of AED programs.