12th Annual Shocks and Saves Charity Hockey Game
The 12th Annual Shocks and Saves® charity hockey game took place at the Dow Event Center in Saginaw on February 2nd, 2019. Local Physicians, EMS professionals and former Detroit Red Wings faced off against each other in a lighthearted fundraiser game. Jiri Fischer, John Ogrodnick, Larry Murphy, Darren McCarty, Kip Miller and Jimmy Carson were amongst the noted celebrity NHL players that participated. MMR was proud to have 25 employees playing in the game who normally serve in EMT, Paramedic, and Supervisors roles.
The Shocks and Saves® event is a collaboration between the Pulse3 Foundation, Mobile Medical Response and the Saginaw Spirit. Our aim is to raise funds for cardiac arrest and heart health awareness, CPR training and automated external defibrillators (AED) throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region. To date, our endeavor has resulted in deployment of 220 AED units throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region. 25 of those units have been used in a rescue and played a pivotal role in saving the lives of 11 victims of cardiac arrest.
During the intermission of the Shocks and Saves® game over 60 people participated in an on-ice CPR demo where they learned Hands Only CPR. The demo was led by MMR Paramedic Instructor Ken White. The participants were able to learn this life-saving procedure in two minutes, while those in the stands watched on and took note of the steps. Other attendees of the event had the opportunity to learn CPR throughout the night at the CPR stations which were located throughout the hockey arena. Having CPR trained bystanders in the community greatly increases the chance that a cardiac arrest victim will survive. Over the past 12 years MMR and the Pulse3 Foundation have trained over 50,000 individuals in CPR!
Jiri Fischer, a cardiac arrest survivor presented his story before a standing room only crowd in TheDow Event Center’s Red Room. His message was one of surviving challenges, keeping yourself in good health, constant motivation to become your best self and most importantly, make the best of and enjoy the life you have been given.
This year over $60,000 was raised from sponsorships, WNEM phone bank, jersey raffle, online auction, 50/50 and charity ticket proceeds. The funds will go towards the purchase of additional AED’s for the community and enable Pulse3 Foundation to hold free hands-only CPR training throughout the year.
Shocks and Saves® remains the number one independent cause marketing fund raiser in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), made up of 60 teams, and has made significant impact in the Great Lakes Bay community. Mark your calendar for next year’s event on February 1, 2020!
