An automatic external defibrillator presentation was held June 11 at the Blaine Lake Senior Citizens' Centre making the total count of AEDs within the community rise to five.
Four of the five have been donated by the directors of the Rick Lamontagne Memorial Fund and are located one each at Blaine Lake Composite School, Blaine Haven Lodge, Blaine Lake Skating Arena and Blaine Lake Senior Citizens' Centre. The fifth is owned by the Town of Blaine Lake and is located at the Blaine Lake Curling Rink.
Carla Lamontagne, director of the memorial fund, was available for the unveiling of the wall-mounted AED. It was explained how the fund was established and the relevance of the AEDs. The Lamontagne family is extremely passionate about this technology being located within the community of Blaine Lake as it was a few years ago when Carla's husband, Rick, passed away suddenly while playing recreational hockey in the community.
Diana Woytiuk of Blaine Lake Ambulance Care Ltd. and public access defibrillator co-ordinator and first aid/AED/CPR instructor was in attendance to witness the unveiling of the valuable first aid tool at the seniors' centre.
Woytiuk's presentation consisted of demonstrating how to operate the AED including a basic explanation of signs and symptoms leading up to a heart attack. Woytiuk emphasized that prevention is the best option. "There is no such thing as a sudden heart attack," she explains. "It takes years to develop and a person will experience symptoms 48-72 hours before they seek medical attention or collapse."
Automatic external defibrillators are known to save many lives each year. Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere and at any age. An AED is an effective treatment for restoring a regular heart rhythm and is an easy-to-operate tool for someone with no medical training.
According to the Red Cross website, "the average response time for a first responder once 9-1-1 is called is between eight and 12 minutes and for each minute defibrillation is delayed, the chance of survival is reduced approximately 10 percent."
It is with full intent that a full CPR course will be offered in September and October at the centre. For more information about first aid/ CPR/AED training or to become a trained AED contact individual within the community of Blaine Lake, contact Diana at Blaine Lake Ambulance Care Ltd.
The Blaine Lake Senior Citizens' directors and members extend a gracious thank you to the memorial fund directors for their continued support of community health.
