News

Providing resuscitation in the event of an emergency will become a whole lot easier, thanks to the Public Access to Defibrillators (PAD) program about to be launched during an open house at Keyano College.

The initiative is being lead by the Fort McMurray Fire Fighters' Association Union Local 2494. The event will take place on June 15 at 9 am outside of the College Health Services Office in the Clearwater Campus.

The PAD Program features the installation of 15 new automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in strategically positioned high-traffic venues across the community, thanks to a $32,000 donation from the Rotary Club of Fort McMurray. Keyano College will be the site for five AEDs, which will also be used for the community at large.

Val Grainger, Health Services Coordinator at Keyano College considers the initiative a dream come true. Grainger says this program is an amazing opportunity for Keyano College to provide a great service to the region.

"We care about the health, wellness and safety of the region and this initiative is a win-win situation," Grainger enthused.

Elliott Davis, PAD Program Coordinator and Union Secretary with the Fort McMurray Firefighters' Association says the idea was inspired by similar initiatives being launched all over North America.

"According to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada, each minute an AED is withheld during a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), chances of survival decrease by 10 per cent," Davis noted.

He hopes this program will empower the public with knowledge about AEDs. "An AED will only shock a person in a sudden cardiac arrest; it will not shock someone where it is unnecessary to do so. These devices are very safe. Our vision is to install them throughout the community and a long-term goal is to ensure they become as visible as fire extinguishers are today," Davis continued.

"During a sudden cardiac arrest we can reduce the risk of death by 50 per cent, thanks to AEDs before emergency services arrive," added Davis. "We hope for a great turn-out on Monday. Come to the launch with a lot of questions," he encourages.

The Firefighters' Association will be maintaining the devices in the Municipality, and will continue to raise funds to do so.