It has become tradition for Slovenia’s largest insurer to help expand the network of defibrillators available across the country within its “For a Better Tomorrow” New Year prevention campaign. In keeping with its mission of providing a safer future and caring about each and every life, the Celje regional office of Zavarovalnica Triglav enabled the purchase of defibrillators for the Celje station of the Mountain Rescue Service and the Šmartno ob Dreti voluntary fire brigade. In addition, students with special needs attending VIZ III. Osnovna šola Rogaška Slatina primary school can look forward to holistic physiotherapy treatments, which will be provided thanks to Triglav’s donation.
“When life is at stake, seconds are what counts. And no one knows that better than those who are the first to rush to one’s aid. Because we wish to help them realise their mission and increase the chances of survival in the event of a cardiac arrest for the local residents, Zavarovalnica Triglav has created a tradition of supporting the expansion of the network of defibrillators throughout Slovenia. In creating a safer future, we are also always thinking of a healthy lifestyle for children, adolescents and vulnerable groups of people, such as students with special needs. Our help will contribute to their steps becoming more secure,“ Alenka Novak, Director of Zavarovalnica Triglav’s regional office in Celje, elaborated on this year’s prevention campaign.
Aids for holistic physiotherapy treatment
Zavarovalnica Triglav’s Celje regional office helped the VIZ III. OŠ Rogaška Slatina primary school purchase dedicated physiotherapy aids, such as a table for stretching, balance-improving accessories and mats. The pupils attending the adapted primary school programme with lower educational criteria and a special education and training programme will thus be enabled holistic physiotherapy treatment. These aids can also be used in sports and extracurricular activities.
“Although the VIZ III. OŠ Rogaška Slatina primary school has highly qualified and motivated staff, it all too often has to rely on the generosity and kind-heartedness of individuals, organisations, local communities and companies in order to function at its best. Donations support the realisation of our endeavours and the development of our school,” Apolonija Kunštek, the head teacher of the VIZ III. OŠ Rogaška Slatina primary school, explained the situation in which the school finds itself.
Every second counts
Every day, more than a dozen Slovenians suffer a heart attack. Immediate resuscitation could prevent several hundred deaths a year. To increase the chances of survival for residents of and visitors to the Celje region in such cases, the Celje regional office of Zavarovalnica Triglav supported the Celje station of the Mountain Rescue Service and the Šmartno ob Dreti voluntary fire brigade in the purchase of defibrillators.
“The equipment is used by our mountain rescuers, who are located at different spots around the Savinjska region when on call. More and more people are venturing into the mountains, including older people and others at greater risk of heart disease. Only with prompt action and appropriate equipment can we help when such instances arise,” Gašper Knez, Deputy Team Leader of the Celje Mountain Rescue Service, commented on the donation.
The defibrillator is kept in a rescue vehicle in Celje; during the summer on-call period, it will be set up on Okrešelj in the vicinity of the Logarska Dolina valley.
“With each second lost, the quality of life of a person who suddenly falls ill diminishes. A defibrillator means more lives will be saved and remain at a quality level, especially in rural areas where rescuers have to cover greater distances to get to patients. To help our fellow human being is our basic and moral responsibility. This leads us to achieving even higher humanitarian goals,“ pointed out Darja Acman, President of the Šmartno ob Dreti voluntary fire brigade.
Eight years of the campaign and more than 200 projects
Slovenia’s largest insurer has been running their “For a Better Tomorrow” New Year prevention campaign for eight years now. In the last seven years, Zavarovalnica Triglav supported more than 180 prevention projects nationwide, with a further 25 receiving support this year, making a total of more than 200. In recent years, the company has co-financed the purchase of defibrillators, ultrasound and ECG machines, and other life-saving medical devices, supported a large number of other projects in the fields of healthcare, civil protection, flood mitigation and road safety, and helped numerous fire brigades around the country.
In past editions of the New Year prevention campaign, the Celje regional office of Zavarovalnica Triglav has helped Vesele Nogice, an association for children with developmental disorders, Medobčinsko društvo slepih in slabovidnih Celje, an association for the blind and visually impaired, the Celje station of the Mountain Rescue Service with the purchase of avalanche rescue equipment, and with new illuminated road signs in Šmartno ob Paki.
