Community Centres & Governments

More and more community centres and government buildings, where large numbers of people gather for recreation, exercise or community activities, are being fitted with automated external defibrillator (AED) devices. This is a pleasing development, but many community leaders still aren’t completely up to speed on who should have one of these life-saving machines in their facility and when they should be used.

An AED is a device that diagnoses life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias that may cause sudden cardiac arrest and automatically treats the life-threatening arrhythmia with an electrical impulse.

Public locations, such as community centres, libraries, arenas, parks and government buildings, should have AEDs to give individuals a fighting chance in an emergency situation. Having one on hand will hopefully save someone's life in the event of cardiac arrest.

It is our duty as members of a community to keep each other safe. That is why we created the AED Advantage Community Kit. The kit contains everything you need to activate an AED in your community, including devices and equipment, educational material, and AED signage. In just a few steps you can have an AED on site with little effort.

Automatic External Defibrillators In Public Places

AEDs are usually put in places where they will most likely be needed (ensuring fast delivery of an electric current) and where quick service by paramedics is not readily available. To manage these devices well, you need to know where to place them and how to use them properly. Typically, AEDs should be placed as follows:

With easy accessibility to public;
With appropriate signage;
In an alarm activated and unlocked cabinet;
In a common area or hallway.

Being able to easily find an AED in public places can save lives. There are countless success stories from across the country of people who were saved by their presence. If you're looking for a safer, healthier venue, ask the team at AED Advantage about ideas for placement in your busy community centre or government building.

Are AEDs Mandatory In Canada?

One of the most dramatic changes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest care has been the widespread adoption of automated external defibrillators. They clearly increase survival from sudden cardiac arrest and have been recommended by multiple organizations. There are several provinces that have passed legislation for AED implementation, such as Bill 141 in Ontario, and hopefully the rest of the provinces and territories will follow suit.

While AEDs are not mandatory in all of Canada, below are some good reasons why all public spaces should have AEDs on site:

Important tool in treating sudden cardiac arrest;
Increase survival rates by nearly 40%; and
Can be used by a layperson.

Though the regulations applying to AEDs differ, the relevant standards are similar. These well-tested machines have proven safety records and reliable features that give the user peace of mind in emergencies. With the help of AED Advantage you can rest assured that your AED will be properly maintained with little to no effort on your part - this means you can rely on your device to perform all appropriate functions until advanced medical help arrives.

Buy An AED With AED Advantage

Now that you know what AEDs are, where and how they can be used to save lives, you can pass along that knowledge. Are there defibrillators at your community centre or other facility? Do your staff and volunteers know their proper use?

If you are interested in placing an AED in your building, but don't know where to begin or would like additional resources on the subject, please feel free to contact us or visit AEDAdvantage.ca. For more information on how an AED can help protect your community and its members, see our stories section of the website.