The City of Delta will be installing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at select high-traffic outdoor locations.
Council recently approved supporting the St. John Ambulance Start Me Up BC program to install AEDs, devices which can analyze a heart's rhythm during cardiac arrest and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish a normal rhythm.
AEDs are safe and easy to use even with little to no experience. Visual and voice prompts guide users through the process.
During a cardiac arrest, it only takes three-to-five minutes for brain damage to occur. The survival rate is less than five per cent after 12 minutes without treatment, according to St. John Ambulance, which says more of these devices could help improve outcomes.
The goal of the St. John Ambulance campaign is to partner with cities to place 1,000 publicly accessible AEDs across the province.
Public spaces targeted include transit corridors, SkyTrain stations, bus loops, and high-traffic areas like shopping malls and parks.
The City of Delta currently has AED units available in each of its major recreation facilities.
Staff recommended placing units at the John Oliver Park fieldhouse, Holly Park fieldhouse, North Delta Community Park concession and Fred Gingell Park trail at the top of the stairs.
Staff will also explore the placement of units inside each of the city's park fieldhouses as well as at each of the public libraries.
The four new units will have a total combined cost of $32,000, funded from council’s contingency budget.
