SooToday buys hospital new defibrillator

SooToday is purchasing a new defibrillator for Sault Area Hospital.

The $17,400 purchase for a new defibrillator is part of a partnership with the hospital foundation's 50/50 draw.

The new equipment will support emergency care here in the Sault, replacing older defibrillators in the hospital's emergency department.

Sault Area Hospital Foundation's full press release about the donation reads as follows:

Sault Area Hospital Foundation is excited to announce a donation from SooToday and Village Media to support Emergency Care at Sault Area Hospital.

Village Media, which owns and operates SooToday.com, has entered into a pledge to purchase a new defibrillator for Sault Area Hospital. The new defibrillators will replace existing older models in the hospital’s emergency department, ensuring our healthcare professionals have reliable, up-to-date equipment needed to save lives.

A defibrillator is a device used to ‘shock’ the heart and resuscitate or revive a patient having a cardiac event. An electrical current is used to correct the rhythm of the heart. Most commonly seen on TV as large hand-held paddles placed on the patient’s chest, this equipment can be key to restarting a heart that has stopped beating. Each defibrillator costs approximately $17,400. The teams at SooToday and Village Media knew it was exactly the purchase they wanted to help make.

"For SooToday to play a part in securing a vital and much-needed piece of medical equipment that will help to save lives at our local hospital is an honour,” said Jeff Elgie, CEO, Village Media. “This donation to the Sault Area Hospital Foundation was a very natural fit for us. Our mission is to strengthen our community and we are proud to do that by partnering with countless local organizations and non-profits to help amplify their messages and get our large local audience involved and supporting them.”

Village Media’s donation is a part of a partnership with the SAHF 50/50. “SooToday and Village Media’s support has been a significant part of our 50/50’s success,” said Teresa Martone, Executive Director, Sault Area Hospital Foundation. “They have not only supported our ability to remind buyers about when the draw is occurring and how high the prize is growing, but are also making this important donation to support the care our hospital strives to deliver. It’s partnerships like this with businesses in our community that give our healthcare teams the tools to provide outstanding care.”

On behalf of the Sault Area Hospital Foundation Board of Directors, Staff and alongside all our supporters, thank you to SooToday and Village Media for their investment in helping ensure local patients receive outstanding care at Sault Area Hospital.