Oak Bay Fire Department
1703 Monterey Avenue, Oak Bay B.C. V8R 5V6 (250) 592-9121 
Email:  obfire@oakbay.ca       Fax:  (250) 598-2749

News Release 
Date: June 8, 2015                                                           OBFD file # 2015-22

For Immediate Release:
Weekly Media Release for Monday, June 1, 2015 to Sunday, June 7, 2015. Over the past week, Oak Bay Fire Department members responded to 18 calls for assistance.
These calls for assistance include:

 8 - Medical First Responder Requests 
 2 – Commercial / Residential Alarm Activations 
 7 – Public Assistance 
 1 – Burning Complaint

The Heart and Stroke Foundation (HSF) recommends that:

Canadians

1. Have widespread access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs), particularly in public locations where sudden cardiac arrest is likely.
2. Be trained and encouraged to apply cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and AED skills when needed.
3. Who are targeted responders be trained, equipped and directed to operate an AED if their responsibilities require them to respond to persons in cardiac arrest.
4. Who own and operate AEDs register the device with their local EMS or a device registry as appropriate and available, and ensure maintenance is performed according to manufacturer guidelines.

Public Access to Defibrillation

Research shows that AEDs are an effective intervention for sudden cardiac arrest in settings where there is a high likelihood of cardiac arrest such as airports, casinos, commercial aircraft cabins, places of recreation, sports facilities, public buildings and in other settings where large numbers of high-risk adults may be located.1-7 These locations also have a reasonable likelihood of witnessed cardiac arrest.6

The Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium (ROC) evaluation of nearly 13,000 cardiac arrests found that a high percentage of cardiac arrests in public locations (60%) were classified as ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF), the types of abnormal heart rhythms that can be corrected using an AED.13

Reducing the time to CPR and defibrillation by having defibrillators accessible in public locations can help provide the best chance of survival following cardiac arrest. The City of Chicago airports public access to AED program showed survival rates as high as 75 per cent. This success is directly related to highly visible, readily accessible automated external defibrillators for public use and an integrated structured emergency response system.7 Provincial legislation, such as Good Samaritan, Medical Aid or Defibrillation Acts protect anyone using an AED in an emergency situation from liability. Each province has its own legislation.

The window of opportunity for using an AED is small and defibrillation is most successful if performed shortly after cardiac arrest. Urban and rural communities need to determine the degree to which they are capable of getting an AED to a victim of cardiac arrest in time for resuscitation efforts to be effective, and consider placement of AEDs where the chance of ambulance response is low, for example on ferries or airplanes.

HSF strongly supports the development of AED programs in communities across Canada to ensure widespread access to AEDs and to provide the greatest chance of survival from cardiac arrest.

The Municipality of Oak Bay has taken a very proactive approach in developing AED programs.  Access has never been better to AEDs offering the greatest chance of survival from cardiac arrest.  AEDs can be found in the following areas throughout Oak Bay:

Victoria Golf Club, Uplands Golf Club, Oak Bay Recreation Centre, Henderson Recreation Center, Monterey Center, Oak Bay Beach Hotel, Royal Victoria Yacht Club and Oak Bay Marina.  The Oak Bay Lodge, Baptist Housing Facilities and Carleton House also are equipped with AEDs.

The Oak Bay Fire Department stresses the importance of CPR training to enhance life safety skills in combination with the use of the AED.  Training sessions are provided at the Oak Bay Fire Department.  For more information please call (250)-592-9121.

HEART ATTACK WARNING SIGNS

CHEST DISCOMFORT

Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. 

DISCOMFORT IN OTHER AREAS OF THE UPPER BODY

Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. 

SHORTNESS OF BREATH

with or without chest discomfort.

OTHER SIGNS

may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

STROKE WARNING SIGNS

Spot a stroke F.A.S.T.:

- Face Drooping Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.

- Arm Weakness Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

- Speech Difficulty Is speech slurred, are they unable to speak, or are they hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "the sky is blue." Is the sentence repeated correctly?

- Time to call 9-1-1 If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately.