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AED in the News

County’s Defibrillator Program Saves Orillia Man’s Life

March 05, 2009, Midhurst, ON

A 44-year-old Orillia man is alive today thanks to the partnership between the County of Simcoe Paramedic Services and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario.

County of Simcoe Paramedic Services responded to a call for assistance at the Orillia YMCA on March 5. While training in the weight room, the 44-year-old man had experienced cardiac arrest and collapsed. An off-duty Muskoka Emergency Medical Services paramedic and a YMCA lifeguard came to his aid, immediately calling 9-1-1 and beginning CPR. A County of Simcoe Public Access Defibrillator was then successfully utilized to shock the man’s heart, which had stopped beating. The patient regained a heartbeat and was conscious and breathing on his own when paramedics arrived two minutes later.  He was transported to Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket for emergency cardiac surgery.

The placement of the AED at the YMCA in Orillia was directed by the County of Simcoe Paramedic Services and made possible by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario’s Heart&Stroke Restart a Heart, Restart a Life Campaign and Chase McEachern Tribute Fund and a generous donation from Scotiabank.

“The Public Access Defibrillator program spearheaded by our Paramedic Services is proving to be a tremendous success in our communities,” said Warden Tony Guergis. “It is truly a life-saving initiative. This program is an example of an important community partnership with the County of Simcoe and the Heart and Stroke Foundation." By making AEDs accessible and by ensuring members of the public are trained in CPR and the use of defibrillators, we are improving the quality of life for our residents and visitors to Simcoe County.”

A total of 167 AED units have been installed at public places across the region and another 30 installations are in the works. Since 2006, approximately 2,300 members of the public have received training from County of Simcoe Paramedic Services, including 151 individuals this year. Training sessions last four hours and include adult and child CPR and AED modalities, facilitated through the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Heart Saver AED course.

Simcoe County has received funding through the Heart&Stroke Restart a Heart, Restart a Life Campaign and the Chase McEachern Tribute Fund to place more than 160 AEDs throughout the community. Through the program, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario is making possible the purchase, installation and associated training for AEDs in communities across the province.
“This save is a testament to what happens when individuals in the community learn CPR and when an AED is within reach. With the help of individuals, community groups and corporate sponsors, like Scotiabank, one day AEDs will become as commonplace as fire extinguishers in Ontario, to save lives,” says Bill Thomas, Interim CEO, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario.
“Our son Chase had a dream of seeing more defibrillators available in more public places to save more lives,” says John McEachern, Chase’s father. “Knowing there have been two lives saved in our home community is truly an honour to the legacy of Chase’s dream.” An advocate for AEDs at arenas and schools, Chase passed away in 2006 and would be proud to see how his legacy has resulted in thousands of AEDs being placed throughout the province, saving lives in the process.

In December, 2007, a newly installed defibrillator was used at the East Bayfield Community Centre in Barrie to shock the heart of a man who had experienced cardiac arrest there. The patient was successfully revived, treated by County of Simcoe paramedics and then transported to South Lake Regional Health Centre for emergency cardiac surgery.

“The importance of Public Access Defibrillator program is highlighted when a life is saved. If not for the AED and associated training this family might have been dealing with a tragic outcome,” stated Andrew Robert, Director and Chief, Paramedic Services. “The County of Simcoe Paramedic Services is pleased that our continued effort to build the PAD program has now saved two lives in our community.”  The County of Simcoe Paramedic Services PAD Program offers a turnkey solution for sites interested in having an AED available to assist people who collapse from sudden cardiac arrest. Paramedic Services continues to receive inquiries about new sites for defibrillators every week.