A new first aid business in North Bay is stepping up to help support Ukraine as the Ukraine-Russia conflict continues overseas.
Evan Smith and his fiance Mathew Lesnick are spearheading an initiative to fill up an operational ambulance with supplies that will be shipped overseas.
"Another group out of Toronto got the ambulance," noted Lesnick, who runs Gateway First Aid and Supply located on Lakeshore Drive in North Bay.
"The ambulance and gear are being shipped down together overseas but our goal was just to supply it with equipment."
Lesnick says they are sending enough equipment to stock two ambulances. Some of the items include CPR manikins, helmets, pants, CPR masks, oxygen masks, and other health care supplies.
Lesnick says he was spurred onto the idea after travelling to remote areas of the province.
"For years I have been travelling north of Thunder Bay, to communities like Sandy Lake, Attawapiskat and Pikanjikum teaching first aid," explained Lesnick.
"Anytime I travel to these communities I always bring a bunch of extra medical supplies like band-aids, first aid kits, CPR masks, and medical supplies as giveaways throughout the day, due to the lack of access. So knowing there is a local need, these supplies were for a group beyond first aid training, and knowing there was an ambulance going to the Ukraine soon it was a perfect time to bring it down to Toronto."
Lesnick hopes their initiative sends a message by supporting this cause.
"We want to start by saying everyone should be trained in First Aid and CPR, as minutes matter in a cardiac arrest, and bystanders help save lives in sudden cardiac arrests," he said.
"We also want people to know no matter how big or small the item, or organization, donate what you can to groups or organizations that can use it."
