AED Facts
What is an Automated External Defibrillator?
An AED is a portable electronic device that diagnoses a lethal cardiac arrhythmia and is able to treat it through defibrillation. If used in conjuction with CPR and applied within a few minutes of cardiac arrest, survival rates increase dramatically.
Cardiac Arrest Statistics in Canada
45,000 cardiac arrests annually in Canada
85% of cardiac arrests occur in the home and public places
Less than 5% of cardiac arrests that do not occur in the hospital will survive
For every 1 minute delay without an AED, chances of survival goes down 10%
Signs and Symptoms of a Heart Attack
Chest pain
Difficulty breathing
Nausea
Anxiety
Paleness
Pain in shoulders, neck and arms
Sweaty skin
Rapid or irregular heart rate
The Chase McEachern Act (Heart Defibrillator Civil Liability, 2007)
Chase McEachern passed away at 11 years old while advocating to have AED's available in public places. The act exempts a lay rescuer from civil liability for attempting to help another individual.
