These days, you don't have to be a doctor to save a life. New Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) make it possible for even non-medical personnel to restore heart rhythm and life.  An AED is a machine that can monitor heart rhythms. It can tell if the heart has stopped beating effectively. If required, the machine can then advise the operator to deliver an electric shock to the heart. Most of the time, along with CPR, this shock will restart the heart.

AEDs save lives

About 40,000 Canadians experience cardiac arrest every year. That’s one cardiac arrest every 12 minutes. Early CPR and early defibrillation improves survival rates by up to 50% if delivered in the first few minutes. With each passing minute, the probability of survival declines by 7% to 10%. Getting trained in CPR and making defibrillators easily accessible has the potential to save thousands of lives. 

Get trained

AEDs are safe and easy to use but can be more effectively used once you have been trained on how to perform CPR and use an AED.  With proper training and awareness, it is very effective in saving lives of those in cardiac arrest. The Heart and Stroke Foundation is working diligently to ensure widespread access to AEDs in homes and workplaces, as well as public areas such as arenas, pools, community centres and schools. The Foundation is also urging anyone in close contact with those at high-risk of cardiac arrest – family members, police, firefighters, flight attendants and security guards – to become trained in the use of AEDs.  

HSFC Position Statement on Public Access to AEDs