Thank you to all students, staff and volunteers at The Calgary Girls School for another very successful Run/Walk for Brianne's LEAP of Hope June 26th, 2012. You all amaze me once again, however not surprised that you raised $10, 350.00! Well done girls, great job sharing Brianne's story to your friends and family to help us to continue to support other families in the Calgary area with children with life limiting illnesses.
Of course a special thank you to North Glenmore Park Community Hall for allowing us once again to use their parking lot and gym (to finish the Rythmic Wishes for the Grade 9's). Also, a most heartfelt appreciation for Teamsters Union 362; for providing the Truck and trailer as always... without it our event would not be the same. Sponsors to thank that provided items for our raffle baskets, Unilver Canada and Gerry Cool (Silpada Ca.).
Funds this year will support the KIDSIM Program at The Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation and also as always we will continue to give generously to The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada.
Each year, The Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation works respectively with great thought to help Brianne's LEAP of Hope choose which program to support during our fundraising season. I found one of this years program incredibly interesting and could see how this would have surely aided in Brianne's care as she suffered from uncontrollable seizure activity throughout her illness. It is frightening as a parent to watch your child suffer from seizures without being able to do much aside to support them to be sure they are always safe. Below I have included some information on this initiative which I am thrilled to support this year.
The KIDSIM Program
Thanks to generous donors like you, specialists at the Alberta Children’s Hospital are preparing to offer new hope and help to these families in the form of specialized, hands-on education. Plans are now underway for a simulation-based training program that will help prepare parents to develop the skills and confidence to handle their child’s complex seizure disorders.
Since 2005, human patient simulation at the Alberta Children’s Hospital has trained thousands of health care professionals how to handle life-threatening medical emergencies by running mock trauma and resuscitation drills on sophisticated, life-like mannequins. Because they’re so realistic, these high-tech dolls can simulate breathing, pulses, blood pressure, as well as speech and sound so they can replicate a child’s response to illness, injury and treatment.
Having provided national leadership in simulation training for healthcare professionals for over six years, the Alberta Children’s Hospital KidSIM™ Program is building on the success of the hospital’s nation-leading program for health professionals and extending similar education and training to families of children who suffer from chronic diseases with the possibility of acute deterioration - beginning with seizures.
A child may have a variety of seizures, some more dangerous than others. Hospital experts will work with parents to practice real-life scenarios on high-tech mannequins programmed to have simulated seizures. Parents will learn how to get their child in the recovery position, monitor and support their breathing, and to draw and safely administer rescue medication – all while calling the hospital for help and any additional support their child may need.
Deanna Koot is a registered nurse and the Project Coordinator for the upcoming initiative.
“It’s natural to feel panicked when a child starts seizing, even when you’re a trained caregiver, so it’s incredibly frightening for parents and family members to see their own child having a seizure,” says Deanna. “Certain seizures are so violent there isn’t time to get the child to hospital. Providing the opportunity for a parent or caregiver to practice a stressful scenario until they’re comfortable will empower families to provide necessary support and medications. We work hard to provide families with the tools to care for their child when and where they require it, and we believe that for many families, simulation training is that tool.”
Now, thanks to community support, the KidSIM™ and Neurology teams are planning to begin this type of training with families this fall as part of an important ground-breaking research project. What’s more, this project will be the first of its kind in the world!
“Our hospital is providing international leadership in both simulation-based, inter-professional training and research, with the aim to further highlight and share the impact of our important work,” says Dr. Vincent Grant, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Calgary and Medical Director of the KidSIM™ Program at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. “Our first objective is to provide families and professionals with the experience they need to manage medical crises as efficiently, safely, and confidently as possible. We also want to share the scientific evidence we gather with the broader medical community so the benefits may be felt across North America and beyond. It’s very exciting.”
