It all started in 2010, when a little girl had a sudden cardiac arrest during physical education class at school. Unfortunately, she didn't make it. That tragic event deeply shocked our community. At that moment, I realized that my mission as an anesthetist was not over yet, even though I was close to retirement. From there, my commitment to training citizens in first aid was born, starting in schools, associations, even in a hair salon, to intercept mothers.

Over 200, including students, teachers and citizens. The goal has always been to teach cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the use of the defibrillator and the maneuvers of disobstruction, especially in sensitive contexts such as nursery schools and nursing homes. The Municipality of Vittoria and that of Acate have supported us from the beginning, together with friends, colleagues, entrepreneurs and institutional representatives. It was a true team effort.

Exactly. In 2023 we decided to give a structured form to this project, founding a social promotion association that today has 40-50 members. This is how the project was born Cardioprotected Victory 2025. One of the things I am most proud of is the Assistance Area, a health facility within the Municipality: an accessible space where we keep a defibrillator and offer support in case of sudden illnesses. Very few municipalities in Italy have one.

In June 2024 I met AICARM by participating in the course for expert patients in Florence. A decisive experience. We recognized ourselves in their values ​​and decided to walk together, while maintaining our local identity. We feel part of the great AICARM family. On May 15th there will be a public event at the Municipality of Vittoria to formalize this collaboration. For us it is an important moment, also emotional: having the representatives of AICARM alongside means a lot.

Yes, I was still in service as an anesthetist. I had three fundamental phases in my career: first as an anesthetist in Friuli, then as a co-responsible assistant in my city, finally, for health reasons, in health management. But I didn't stop there. I also wanted to give a personal touch to the vaccination clinic, where I was transferred. I created an emergency corner for any adverse reactions and founded the SAVE operational unit, an acronym for Emergency Vaccination Clinic Safety Service. An anesthetist in a vaccination clinic is not a common thing and for this very reason I have been invited to various regional and national locations. It seemed right to me to put my skills at service there too. I wanted the clinic to be a welcoming and safe place, even for high-risk cases, avoiding the constant need to go to the hospital. We created a small point called Emergency Point, and communication with parents has also changed. The educational approach has given incredible results.

Involving my wife, we brought the training to school. I explained physiology, she explained pathology. We used colored hats to represent red blood cells… it was a small theatrical show. The kids, even the most difficult ones, became involved, attentive, generous. Some episodes really moved me. Children called “bullies” who then helped their classmates, saved situations, became the “good ones”.

They are spontaneous donations from private citizens, entrepreneurs, associations, even a hairdresser. Others have come from circles such as the industry and commerce, from the diocese of Acate for a center that welcomes foreign children, and from the wife of a deceased colleague who believed a lot in the project. Even the Galleria Marchi, our temporary headquarters, has played a fundamental role as a promoter, supporting us in printing diplomas for rescuers, big and small.

I take advantage of this interview to say it in advance. We would like to adopt the model proposed in Milan, already shared with some school principals. Vittoria is a large city, with about 60.000 declared inhabitants. We are planning a second Assistance Area at the agricultural market, which is the second largest market in Europe, and new courses. Like a drop of oil that spreads on the tablecloth, this initiative is expanding, involving more and more realities.