JOGGINS – Staff and visitors at the Joggins Fossil Centre are a little bit safer thanks to a new automated external defibrillator (AED) machine now available on-site.
The presentation of the machine was made by Judy Black of the Heart & Stroke Foundation at the fossil centre on June 6. Staff at the facility are now trained to use the AED, although they hope they never have to.
“We would like to see AEDs become as commonplace as the fire extinguishers you see on the walls,” said Black, resuscitation program manager with the foundation in Halifax. “Like a fire extinguisher, it’s insurance. You know it’s there if you need it.”
Fossil institute assistant superintendent said it was “pretty straight forward” learning to use the machine, but that he was surprised by the statistics that show chances of survival for people suffering cardiac arrest are increased by as much as 75 per cent with the use of CPR and an AED.
Also on hand at the presentation was EHS paramedic Carrie White, who LeBlanc said was instrumental in the Joggins centre’s successful application to acquire the AED through the foundation’s Restart a Heart, Restart a Life program.
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