City Hall Could Be A Life Saver
Public Access Defibrillator installed next to skating rink
Saving a life just got easier at Barrie City Hall and J.C. Massie Field at Georgian College.
Stand-alone SaveStations – with public access Automated External Defibrillators (AED) – have been put in place at both locations.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Sudden Cardiac Arrests happen every 13 minutes in Canada; survival rates are 75% when an AED is used wthin 10 minutes of the attack[/perfectpullquote]
The SaveStation towers are designed to withstand bitter cold and extreme heat. They also provide real-time feedback to Action First Aid in Barrie, which ensures the units are always fully functional.
Deb Hennig, of Action First Aid, says these are the first units of their kind in North America. The plan is to place more of them across the country. (Action First Aid has had a hand in placing AEDs in public places and, more recently, at private homes).
While he hopes the devices won’t need to be used, Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman is thankful to have them at the ready.
“The simple reality of PADs – Public Access Defibrillators – is they save lives. Our city staff have had several saves within our own facilities…in the change room at East Bayfield, in the concourse at Barrie Molson Centre (BMC) during the intermission of a Colts’ game.”
Brian Westgarth-Taylor suffered a cardiac arrest at BMC in 1999. At that time there was no AED in the arena, so he underwent CPR for six minutes until paramedics arrived with a unit. Seven hits from the defibrillator brought him back to life, but he was given just a three per cent chance of survival. AEDs have since been installed at the facility.
The SaveStation defibrillators at Cty Hall and Massie Field are available for anyone to use at any time.
SaveStation with public access defibrillator (PAD) placed next to ice rink at Barrie City Hall and Massie Field at Georgian College; Sudden Cardiac Arrest happens every 13 minutes in Canada; survival rate enhanced with quick use of PAD#SaveStation @ActionFirstAid @Mayor_Jeff pic.twitter.com/H4B6SEpsuY
— Barrie 360 (@Barrie360) November 20, 2018
