Province Helps Make Recreation Facilities Safer

Nova Scotians who use indoor sport and recreation facilities will be safer thanks to a $60,000 grant program that will help facilities purchase automated external defibrillators.

Barry Barnet, Minister of Health Promotion and Protection, announced the launch of the program today, May 15. The grant program will provide a third of the cost, up to $1,500, toward the purchase of an automated external defibrillator for indoor sport and recreation facilities.

"As we encourage Nova Scotians of all ages to get more active, we have a responsibility to ensure our facilities are as safe as possible," said Mr. Barnet. "This program will help create heart smart sport facilities across the province and is another step in protecting the health and safety of Nova Scotians."

An automated external defibrillator is a machine that monitors heart rhythms. If, for any reason, the heart stops beating, the defibrillator automatically sends an electric shock to the heart to try to restart it.

Although defibrillators are useful in heart-related emergencies, they are only one part of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada's chain of survival. Early recognition of heart disease warning signs is still the most effective way to prevent and survive a heart emergency.

The grants will be administered by the Recreation Facility Association of Nova Scotia. Criteria include facility size, seating capacity and staff training to use the machine safely.

"All 130 of our sport and recreation facilities are well used by children, families and seniors," said Bill Cruickshank, executive director of the recreation facility association. "I am so pleased to be able to work with the province and our facilities to help make them even safer places to participate in sports."

Grant application forms and a criteria list can be found at www.RFANS.com .