May 8, 2006 Contact: Dr. Joe Spinale
For Immediate Release 737-7313
Kent Heart Safe Foundation, Kent Hospital to hold AED fair May 16
The fair, open to vendors and the general public, is the first of its kind in the area
WARWICK – Dr. Joe Spinale, chairman of the Kent Heart Safe Foundation, Mayor Scott Avedisian and Kent Hospital officials announced today that the foundation and the hospital will cosponsor an automatic external defibrillator (AED) vendor fair on Tuesday, May 16 from 9 a.m. to noon in the Doctors’ Auditorium of Kent Hospital. The event is free and open to the general public. The event is being held with the support of the American Heart Association.
The fairoffers representatives from government, private businesses or other organizations that are thinking of purchasing AEDs a weath of advice on equipment options, training possibilities and how to make their community or agency Heart Safe. Industry representatives, as well as representatives from the Kent Heart Safe Foundation, will be on hand to demonstrate the latest equipment in the marketplace and to explain the Foundation’s role in the community.
“This is the first event of its kind anywhere in the area,” Spinale said. “It is a great opportunity for those interested in learning about HeartSafe and AEDs to come and learn and demo the equipment. Those individuals and organizations wishing to purchase AEDs will be able to do a side-by-side comparison of the leading devices in the marketplace.”
"As we continue to work with the City of Warwick and the Heart Safe Foundation in spreading the word on the vital importance of CPR and use of AED devices," said Kent VP for Marketing & Public Relations Brian Wallin, "this will be an opportunity to demonstrate to interested users the types of AEDs and their ease of operation by individuals trained as first responders."
Last month, Spinale and Avedisian announced the creation of the Heart Safe Foundation and its board of trustees. The Foundation’s mission is to promote public awareness, AED registry and purchasing, advocacy and fundraising.
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.