More than 40,000 Canadians lose their lives each year due to sudden cardiac arrest, according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. However, public access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in municipally-managed facilities across Vaughan has given residents an increased chance of survival in the event of emergency.

What is an AED?

An AED is a portable device used to treat victims of sudden cardiac arrest. If necessary, an AED will deliver an electric shock to the heart providing an opportunity for it to resume beating effectively.

These devices are safe, easy to use, and can be used effectively by medical and non-medical personnel to help save lives. When used in conjunction with CPR in the first few minutes, these devices can increase the odds of survival by more than 50 per cent.

AEDs in City of Vaughan Public Facilities

In October 2008, Vaughan’s Safe City Committee requested that the provincial government pass Province-wide legislation on themandatory installation of AEDs in public facilities. That request is currently under ministerial review.

In partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, the City of Vaughan recently acquired and installed 22 AEDs in Vaughan public facilities, bringing its total to 45 across the city - currently the largest of any municipality in York Region.

All City of Vaughan Community Centres, the Civic Centre, Joint Operations Centre and the Ministry of Natural Resources building (Dufferin just north of Major Mackenzie) are equipped with one or more AED units. Each AED kit also contains a pair of gloves, scissors, razor, sanitation wipes and facemask barrier device with a one-way filter for CPR.

York Region EMS is responsible for the installation of AEDs in local facilities and staff training through its Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) program, Heart Alive.