The Campbell River branch of the First Open Heart Society recently donated to the Campbell River Hospital Foundation in order to purchase an Ambulatory Blood Pressure monitor and two Holter monitors.
The Ambulatory Blood Pressure monitor measures blood pressure over 24 hours to provide a more complete picture of a patient’s blood pressure.
Patients wear a special blood pressure cuff that measures and records their blood pressure at regular intervals. The records can provide a more reliable measurement than one-off readings.
A Holter monitor is a portable device for continuously monitoring various electrical activity of the cardiovascular system for at least 24 hours. The Holter monitor records electrical signals from the heart via a series of electrodes attached to the chest. These electrodes are connected to a small piece of equipment that is attached to the patient’s belt or hung around the neck, and is responsible for keeping a log of the heart’s electrical activity throughout the recording period.
Formed in 1973, the First Open Heart Society provides patient support for those about to undergo heart surgery by those who have already ‘walked the path.’
The Campbell River branch holds one fundraiser each year – the Walk for Hearts, held the first Sunday in May. All donations from this event stay in our community and are used for North Island heart patients, cardiac equipment for Campbell River Hospital and education for cardiac nurses and technicians.