Town of Sidney staff will soon have additional access to equipment that could save someone’s life in an emergency.
Town council, led by a request by councillor Kenny Podmore, has authorized the purchase of two automated external defibrillators (AEDs) — electronic equipment designed to help people suffering heart attacks. The move will be paired with additional CPR (cardio pulmonary resuscitation) training offered by the Sidney Volunteer Fire Department.
“Placing AED’s in public places is great,” Podmore said, “but we need ongoing training. We have support from the fire department in AED maintenance and with CPR training.”
The CPR training would be offered to town staff and others based on specific requests to do so.
“The CPR component is important,” said assistant fire Chief Brett Mikkelson. “We need good bystander CPR first and in conjunction with the AEDs, it makes for a better survival rate.”
Podmore said there are AEDs already in place at the RCMP detachment, the Mary Winspear Centre and at Panorama Recreation Centre. The two additional devices will be placed at town hall and at the public works yard.
The plan is to buy two AEDs for no more than $2,000. Director of Corporate Services Andrew Hicik said would source out funding for the items, then report back to council.
By the Numbers
• Approx. 40,000 Canadians suffer cardiac arrest each year
• If applied early and alongside CPR, an AED can improve survival rates by more than 30%
• The median survival rate using CPR is 18%
• Survival rates can be doubled with the use of a AED.