Last week, Stephen launched a campaign to bring awareness to the value of and need for public access AEDs.
According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, as many as 40,000 Canadians suffer cardiac arrest every year. This is one person every 12 minutes and over 100 people per day.
For every one-minute delay in defibrillation, the survival rate of a cardiac arrest victim decreases by 7 to 10% 💔📉The use of an AED may increase the likelihood of survival by 75% ❤️📈
Almost 2 years ago, the Ontario Legislature passed Bill 141, the Defibrillator Registration and Public Access Act, 2020.
Bill 141 would increase public access to life saving automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
Despite this, 18 months later, the Bill has still not been enacted and regulations have not been approved by the government to ensure access to these life saving devices.
On January 7, 2022, I wrote to the Minister of Health, asking why almost two-years later, the government has yet enact the legislation and adopt the regulations necessary to put it into force.
Countless lives can be saved by increasing access to AEDs.
You can read the entire letter here.
Stephen’s advocacy was covered in both the Ottawa Citizen and the Ottawa Sun.
There are countless examples from our own community here in Ottawa where public AEDs have helped save lives. Here is a small sample.👇
- Public access defibiltarors save three lives in six days across Ottawa – CTV Ottawa
- Ottawa woman saved by neighbours and quick access to an AED – CTV Ottawa
- Advance planning for defibrillator saves life of teenage basketball player – Ottawa Citizen
- Heart attack survivors keep live-saving AEDs close to home – CBC Ottawa
The Ontario government must do everything in their power to provide public access to AEDs across the province. It is long over-due.