On Sunday 9 June, the Maggiore della Carità hospital-university company donated an automatic defibrillator to the diocese of Novara which will be put at the service of the cathedral.
Novara: a defibrillator for the cathedral
To deliver the device to the bishop Franco Giulio Brambillawas the director of the complex cardiology structure of the Novara hospital, Professor Giuseppe Patti.
The vicar general was present on behalf of the diocese Monsignor Fausto Cossalter and the parish priest of the cathedral Monsignor Renzo Cozzi; The general director was present on behalf of the hospital Gianfranco Zulian and the administrative director Raffaella Garoneas well as several cardiology doctors and healthcare professionals.
«The incidence of sudden cardiac arrest increases with increasing age and has a mortality rate of over 90% – explained Professor Patti -. In most cases, it is caused by major cardiac arrhythmias, such as ventricular fibrillation. Defibrillation, i.e. the delivery of an electric shock to the patient, is the only therapy capable of interrupting major ventricular arrhythmias, but, to maximize the chances of saving the person, it must be carried out within the first few minutes of onset of the event: for every minute that passes, in fact, the chances of survival decrease by 10%! The availability of an automatic external defibrillator makes this intervention rapid and early, so as to increase the probability of saving the lives of subjects with sudden cardiac arrest.”
Thanks from the Bishop
Bishop Franco Giulio, in thanking cardiology and the university hospital, underlined the importance of the cathedral being equipped with an instrument of this type.
«The cathedral – said the bishop – often hosts well-attended celebrations, such as the recent beatification of Don Giuseppe Rossi, which saw the presence of over 1500 faithful. Furthermore, it is located in a central area of the city, between two squares (Piazza Puccini and Piazza della Repubblica) which often see initiatives that attract numerous participants. Having the possibility of using medical equipment that allows immediate rescue is therefore even more important. We are grateful to the Maggiore hospital and the cardiology facility for this gift, which is a gift for the entire city community.”
