The Yorkton Sask Abilities Centre on Ball Road now has an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) thanks to a presentation Friday by The Heart and Stroke Foundation (HSF).
An AED is an electronic device that, in case of a sudden cardiac arrest (sca), will analyze the rhythm of the heart and, if needed, prompt the user to deliver an electric current to "reset" the electrical signal to the heart muscle. The AED will not deliver a shock if one is not needed. The user simply follows the directions given throughout the process. Early use of an AED, along with Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) increases the chances of survival from approximately five per cent with CPR alone, to up to 75 per cent with the AED use.
John Denysek, Regional Director, Saskatchewan Abilities Council, said the unit provides added safety for staff and the public.
"It gives us added peace-of-mind that if we have to deal with an emergency we have the proper equipment," he said, adding it's a case of if a problem arises the facility in now "better prepared."
The Abilities Centre has a staff of 100, and between the day program and SARCAN can have more than 400-public on site in a day.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation receives funding through the National AED Placement Program to place AEDs across Canada. The organization has placed 28 AEDs in Saskatchewan.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation advocates for the placement of AEDs in public places and we have a vision of AEDs becoming as commonplace as fire extinguishers.
The HSF partners with the Health Regions and the local EMS Providers to identify sites for placement.
For more information regarding AEDs, you can visit the website at www.heartandstroke.com
.JPG;w=120;h=80;mode=crop)
