PRESS RELEASE (31/03/2016)
Saturday, April 2, a Loano, to the 11 a.m., in Palestro Square The first of two new first aid stations equipped with semi-automatic defibrillators will be inaugurated. The second station has been set up in the Vallino portico, which connects Via Ghilini to Corso Roma. .
The project continues as follows “Loano heart-safe city”, an initiative that aims to equip public places, sports facilities, and gathering places in the city with semi-automatic defibrillators.
The initiative, proposed by the Councilor John Cepollina and promoted by the’Department of Tourism, Culture and Sports and from the’Heritage Department of the City of Loano in collaboration with the Loano committee of the Italian Red Cross, sees among the new supporters the Lions of Finale Ligure-Loano-Pietra Ligure, who donated one of the two new defibrillators to the city.
“I would like to thank the Lions Club of Finale Ligure-Loano-Pietra Ligure and its president Fabrizio Fornasiero. - says the Mayor of Loano Luigi Pignocca – for the sensitivity shown towards this project. The two new principals will bring the total number to thirteen the defibrillators installed in public spaces at Loano. Popular locations such as the school gym in Corso Europa, Palazzo Doria, the “E. Garassini” Sports Hall, the “Guzzetti” Sports Hall, the Tennis Club, the G. Ellena Stadium, the Library, the Senior Citizens” Center, the Bocciodromo, the school complex in Via D'Annunzio, the gym of the Falcone Institute, and the S. Stella Nursery School have been equipped with Semi-Automatic Defibrillators (AEDs) to prevent sudden deaths due to cardiac arrest.”
In Italy, more than 70,000 times a year, often in public places, a person suddenly falls ill. A defibrillator available on site and specially trained non-medical personnel can represent a chance of survival thanks to first aid intervention.
The semi-automatic defibrillator (often abbreviated to AED) is a device capable of safely defibrillating the heart muscle walls, as it is equipped with sensors to recognize cardiac arrest due to arrhythmias, ventricular fibrillation, and ventricular tachycardia.
“Thanks to the collaboration with the Loano Committee of the Italian Red Cross, – explains Councillor Remo Zaccaria - Numerous information and training events have been promoted to raise awareness of the importance of creating cardio-protected areas through the active participation of citizens. In addition, since last year, the Loano Committee of the Italian Red Cross has become a training and certification body for the issuance of the “license” for the use of the AED. Already about 150 people are authorized to provide first aid with the Loano defibrillator, and in the coming months, new courses will be activated, open to all citizens who wish to obtain the qualification.”
