Source: Global News
Over the past year, Trent University has added 37 publicly accessible automated external defibrillators (AED) across its campuses in Peterborough and Durham, Ont.
In partnership with Action First Aid, the project, which is led by a cross-department working group, took action on a proposal to increase the number of AEDs on Trent’s campuses to 37 from 11. AEDs are portable electronic devices that require no training and are used in combination with CPR to restart a heart after it stops beating.
According to the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation, one out-of-hospital cardiac arrest happens every nine minutes, and the chances of survival double when an AED is used.
Trent University says AEDs have been successfully used twice in the last 10 years at Trent’s Peterborough campus.
“We often think of AEDs being needed for older adults or more vulnerable populations but in this case, actually one of them was a Trent student,” said Leslie Spooner, Trent’s athletics assistant director of customer engagement and operations.
Elyse Swadon, Trent’s manager of environmental health and safety, said:
“AEDs have been successfully used twice in the past 10 years to treat sudden cardiac arrest at Trent, so part of the decision to increase the number of units was because we know they are effective. AEDs can be used by anyone, you don’t need any special training as they are smart, interactive devices which emit voice prompts and walk people through the steps. As such, they are a strong and obvious choice to enhance our health and safety measures for everyone who works, studies, plays, and visits on campus.”
Among the 37 AEDs across its campuses include four in outdoor climate-controlled cabinets — the university says it is one of only two Canadian universities to provide the public with access to an AED 24/7, 365 days a year.
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