A new provincial bill undergoing second reading could have a profound effect on the outcomes of cardiac arrest and bystander CPR response in Ontario.

If passed, Bill 41, The Defibrillator Access Act would be the first of its kind in Canada requiring Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) be installed in public spaces such as schools, fitness facilities and hockey arenas in the province. The Heart and Stroke Foundation has been advocating for this proposed law since 2006.

Heart disease is one of the top killers of Canadians. According to Statistics Canada, in 2005 alone, more than 71,000 people died of major cardiovascular diseases. Chances of survival decrease drastically the longer a person waits to get medical attention.

February is Heart Month and St. John Ambulance says it’s important for people to recognize the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. Knowing these signs and symptoms can spell the difference between life and death:

Zoll AED Plus defibrillator with graphical cover from HeartZAP Services Inc. is the first and only full-rescue AED that provides Real CPR Help for rate and depth of chest compressions, the company says. Real CPR Help is a tool that enables the responder to actually see what they’re doing and provide feedback to help them perform the CPR well. With real-time feedback, the rescuer can provide the best manual CPR resuscitation possible in a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). The AED Plus also guides rescuers through the complete chain of survival helping all SCA victims, not just those who need a shock, the company says. The AED Plus includes an LCD screen showing voice prompt messages, device advisory messages, elapsed time, shock count and chest compression graph, operator’s guide, graphical “ready for rescue” face, one set of CPR-D PADZ, a set of batteries, carrying case and five-year limited warranty. AED Plus also features audio and visual prompts to help the rescuer administer the CPR.
www.heartzap.ca

Work Safe Alberta says the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) at the workplace should be integrated into a company’s first aid program and emergency response plan at the site. In a bulletin issued recently, Work Safe Alberta also urges employers to ensure that the AED can be safely used in their specific work environments.