(HALIFAX, N.S.) Atlantic University Sport is proud to announce a newly established partnership with the Jordan Boyd Foundation.
The Jordan Boyd Foundation has donated a total of 56 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to the AUS conference, representing an investment of $125,000 in enhanced student-athlete safety.
The purpose of this initiative is to significantly improve safety in the event of a sudden cardiac event with an athlete, team or game-day staff member, spectator, or a member of the public.
Although AEDs are available in many university buildings and facilities, this initiative significantly improves athlete safety, by providing portable AEDs that are close to the teams and accompany them while travelling on buses to and from competition, at practices and games—including fields, pitches, rinks and gyms.
These portable AED units will be deployed with the 11 AUS member university athletic programs, which span Atlantic Canada’s four provinces.
Although not well known, each year in Canada, a number of young athletes lose their lives to a sudden cardiac arrest while competing in their sport or shortly thereafter—often as a result of an undiagnosed heart condition.
Research has demonstrated that immediate response with CPR and the use of an AED can dramatically improve the chances of survival following cardiac arrest. Minutes count.
The Jordan Boyd Foundation was established in memory of Jordan Boyd, a promising 16-year-old hockey player from Bedford, Nova Scotia, who tragically passed away in 2013 after collapsing from a sudden cardiac arrest during his first training camp with the QMJHL’s Acadie-Bathurst Titan.
It was later discovered that Jordan had an undiagnosed heart condition known as ARVC (Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy).
The Foundation strives to honour Jordan’s memory by making an impact on heart health within the community and beyond through investing in life-saving research, immediate impact projects, and placement of AEDs in public places and sports settings (such as this initiative with AUS).
“Jordan loved sports, and we know he would want others to be safe while doing what they love,” said Stephen Boyd, Jordan’s father and head of the Jordan Boyd Foundation. “This partnership with AUS ensures that university student-athletes across Atlantic Canada are better protected, and we’re honoured to help make that happen in Jordan’s name. We salute AUS for their leadership as well as that of the athletic directors within the AUS conference. We strongly believe that all athletic organizations should ensure they plan for and are ready to respond to their athletes in the event of a cardiac emergency.”
“There is no greater priority than the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans,” said Phil Currie, president and CEO of Atlantic University Sport. “We’re incredibly grateful to the Jordan Boyd Foundation for this generous and meaningful contribution. These AEDs could save lives, and we want to sincerely thank Stephen and his team for the work they have done to help make our campuses and our communities safer.”
For more information about the Jordan Boyd Foundation and its ongoing efforts to enhance heart health and AED awareness, visit jordanboyd.ca.
For further information, please visit Jess’s website at www.atlanticuniversitysport.com or contact:
Jessica Burns
Marketing and Communications Manager
Atlantic University Sport
jburns@atlanticuniversitysport.com
902-425-4235
