Source: Lanarkist
Lanark County’s first around-the-clock, publicly accessible defibrillator is now in place outside of a personal residence, thanks to a personal initiative by a local paramedic.
Lanark County Paramedic Service (LCPS) Commander and Coordinator of the local Public Access Defibrillator program Janice Steele has installed a climate-controlled SaveStation automated external defibrillator (AED) outside her own home and it is now available to the public 24/7. Steele covered the cost herself, saying the move could help save lives during sudden cardiac arrests — when every second counts.
“As a paramedic, I’ve seen firsthand how early defibrillation can mean the difference between life and death,” said Steele in a release issued by the Mississippi River Health Alliance (MRHA). “While our paramedics respond as quickly as possible, bystander CPR and AED use in the first few minutes can dramatically increase survival rates. My goal is to remove access barriers and give my neighbours the tools and confidence to act in a cardiac arrest emergency.”
The SaveStation AED, supplied by Action First Aid, is designed to keep the lifesaving device secure, weather-protected, and rescue-ready at all times. The MRHA noted this AED could eventually integrate with PulsePoint technology, allowing 911 dispatchers to alert nearby responders and trigger the station’s beacon light during emergencies.
“For each minute without CPR and defibrillation, a person’s chance of survival drops by 7–10%,” explained the MRHA. “While 70–85% of cardiac arrests happen at home, most AEDs are locked inside buildings after hours, out of reach when they’re needed most.”
But AEDs are only useful in an emergency when the person responding knows how to effectively use it. With that in mind, Steele will be hosting a free training session for her neighbours on hands-only CPR and AED use.
To read more visit: Lanarkist
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