Arenas in the Cariboo are a safer place to play with the acquisition of new emergency medical equipment.
Staff at the South Cariboo Rec. Centre (SCRC) in 100 Mile House and volunteers from the Rolf Zeis Memorial Arena in Lac la Hache received training on how to operate automated external defibrillators (AEDs) recently. These portable devices are used to identify cardiac rhythms and deliver a shock to correct abnormal electrical activity in the heart
It’s part of an initiative directed by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (HSFC) to promote public access to the life-saving equipment.
The groups also received CPR training as part of the course, first-aid instructor James Seeley says, adding more user groups, such as members of the local minor hockey association and senior hockey players, will participate in the training in the near future.
“Basically, you don't need a medical director to work a defibrillator. They're simple, they're effective, and they're finding that if we have people well-trained in the public, then the timeframe is quicker to get a defibrillator on somebody rather than somebody waiting for professional rescuers.”
The idea is in the event of sudden cardiac arrest – like when Dallas Stars forward Rich Peverley collapsed on the bench during an NHL game on March 10 – more people are able to respond, and potentially save a life.
“So many of these people want to do something, but they're not exactly sure what they should do [in a medical emergency],” says Seeley, who's also a local paramedic.
“People should come out of [this course] feeling very confident about their skill level.”
The SCRC is getting two new AED units, and the Rolf Zeis Memorial Arena is getting one.
“I think it's important to give recognition to Josh [Dickerson] and Laura [Albert] for setting this program up [in 100 Mile House] and it's important to give recognition to Jeanette McCrea for setting it up through the Rolf Zeis Memorial Arena. Without these people stepping forward and saying, 'Hey, we need this' ... this would never have had happened.”
Seeley also gives kudos to the HSFC for the initiative, and he thanks Thompson Rivers University for providing training equipment.
According to a position statement on its website, the HSFC, states it encourages public facilities with a high likelihood of cardiac arrest to incorporate AED programs into more comprehensive emergency response plans.
“Up to 40,000 cardiac arrests occur each year in Canada. That’s one cardiac arrest every 12 minutes,” the website states.
“Without rapid and appropriate treatment, most of these cardiac arrests will result in death. Thousands of lives could be saved through public access to automated external defibrillators.”