Local News
$700 made in 1st hour of 18th Annual 800 CHAB Family First Radiothon
The 18th annual 800 CHAB Family First Radiothon, in support of the Moose Jaw Health Foundation, is live on your radio from centre court at the Town ‘n Country Mall for 36 hours. This year’s goal is to raise $140,000 for cardiac care equipment at the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital. The total raised as of 7 a.m. was $700. Healthcare professionals at our hospital treat over 2,900 patients experiencing cardiac issues each year. Every year, about 3,000 people die in Saskatchewan from heart attacks and strokes. “In heart stopping moments of a cardiac emergency, immediate access to specialized cardiac care equipment is so vitally important. Every second counts,” said Moose Jaw Health Foundation Executive Director Kelly McElree. All the funds raised through the Family First Radiothon stay in the community, and every dollar raised counts. “We continue to see increases in costs for the equipment, which means that we need more dollars coming in so that we can continue to have the cutting edge equipment here for our professionals,” said Moose Jaw Health Foundation board member James Murdock. The equipment that we are looking to purchase for the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital includes: A LUCAS Automated CPR Machine ($16,000) Used for automated chest compressions. This is a piece of equipment our hospital has never had. An EGC Mac 5500 ($22,000) Used to record a heart’s electrical activity to ascertain issues such as heart attacks/disease or arrythmias. A Holter Monitor ($14,000) Used to record a heart’s rhythms during a patient’s day to help with diagnosis. Four Medication Carts ($50,000) Used for storing and swiftly accessing medications. Six Patient Stretchers ($30,000) Used to quickly and comfortably transport patients. Murdock said specialized equipment should not be limited to hospitals in big cities. “For the longest time, it’s always been perceived that this type of equipment can only be in Regina or Saskatoon. As healthcare continues to expand, this equipment is needed everywhere,” said Murdock Registered nurse Nicole Kennedy, manager of clinical services in emergency, ICU and respiratory therapy, said this equipment saves time which, in turn, saves lives. “In healthcare these days, everybody’s so busy and everybody’s quite sick and we just want to give the best care we can for people,” Kennedy said. “So, things like stretchers, it seems like, well it’s just a stretcher, but it makes such a difference for people. Then things like the LUCAS, gives such high-quality CPR. It’s such a good machine that it really is key to us.” Equipment such as the LUCAS Automated CPR machine is important, lifesaving piece of equipment for the hospital, according to registered nurse Marcy Cameron, a clinical resource nurse in emergency and ICU. “I’ve seen the efficiency of that piece of equipment where we, as humans, can’t be that efficient. It literally can save a life. So, if there’s any little bit of spare change in your pocket that you can give, I would encourage that,” Cameron said. The 18th annual 800 CHAB Family First Radiothon runs until 6 p.m. on Friday. You can donate in-person by stopping by the mall or over the phone by calling 306-691-GIVE (4483).