november 1, 2008

NEWS | 1

The Observer | Saturday, November 01, 2008

Putting the regions’ roads on a low-sodium diet......................................... »16

New feature to get the kids thinking

»31

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 44

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 01, 2008

www.ObserverXtra.com

PRICELESS

» CoNtINUING thE LEGACY

TRACING THE MARATHON OF HOPE Jacob Nafziger, left, Erika Morrison, Jessica Bowman, Cameron Brown, Sarah Rose Grainger, Evan Seip and Lucas harrison hold a map of Canada showing how far Riverside public School colphoto | JoNI MILtENBURG lectively ran during their six-week-long terry Fox Marathon. the students ran 8,002 kilometres, which left them, appropriately enough, in hope, B.C.

Wellesley seeks public training with defibrillators

Lifesaving devices deployed in arenas and community centres; goal to make residents able to use them MARC MIQUEL HELSEN Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) hang in four of Wellesley’s public facilities; now, the township wants members of the public to learn how to use them. To that end, staff is looking for people to take part in an information session scheduled for Nov. 15 at the Linwood Community Centre. “Every minute you can save by getting these pieces of

equipment in use can really up the chance of saving a life,” said recreation director Brad Voisin after Tuesday night’s council meeting. The free, 90-minute session encompasses both knowledge and practical components and will touch upon several issues including: how to care for a conscious choking victim; the use of CPR and AEDs; legalities associated with the units; and potentially lifesaving first-aid procedures (control of bleeding and the use of epi-

pens). Upon completion of the session, participants will have the basic knowledge to react to an emergency situation. While the program does not provide certification, participants will receive a discount coupon that can be applied to full training. “It’s an awareness program so that people, hopefully, aren’t afraid [to] maybe go for further training,” said Voisin. “The big thing is making people aware that these things

are in our facilities, and they’re going to become more and more common.” Such units are increasingly common in public areas, from arenas to airports. Wellesley currently has defibrillators at the St. Clements and Wellesley arenas, as well as at the Hawkesville and Linwood community centres. In the near future, it hopes to obtain units, which cost about $2,600 each, for the Wellesley and St. Clements community centres. The Wellesley Fire

Department has another three units distributed among its three stations. The township obtained its four AEDs free of cost this summer through a joint program by the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Frank Cowan Foundation, the province and the Region of Waterloo. The upcoming information event in Linwood is among a series of sessions funded by the region and is part of its Community Awareness and See CARE page »06

Anniversary Event Nov. 3-8, 2008 | Mon. to Thurs. 9-5, Fri. 9-9, Sat. 9-5

Blow

$69 out .95 Reg. P rice $ 12 9.95

Free Refreshments This Week - Relax & Shop With Us

Newton | 1-877-595-7585