“Defibrillator placement and training are essential steps in helping Canadians save lives,” says Bobbe Wood, CEO, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. “This is an important policy recommendation which was identified in the Canadian Heart Health Action Plan.”
Up to 85 per cent of all cardiac arrests occur in public settings or homes.
Less than five per cent of victims who have a cardiac arrest outside of hospital survive. The early use of a defibrillator along with CPR before the arrival of emergency services can increase the individual’s chance of survival by up to 75 per cent. This is critical, given that the survival rate decreases seven to 10 per cent with every passing minute.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation has been advocating for an increased number of defibrillators and training in communities to give Canadians the tools and knowledge they need to respond in the event of a cardiac arrest.
