By Brian Schultz
The federal government and Heart and Stroke Foundation has surpassed their goal of installing 2,500 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in recreational and hockey arenas across the country.
The initiative came with the training of more than 18,000 people on how to properly operate the equipment.
The Little Mountain Sportsplex in the RM of Rosser northwest of Winnipeg utilized their AED just hours after it was installed to help an individual who had collapsed while playing sports.
“I have witnessed first-hand the importance of having AED’s in arenas,” said Gord Stevenson of the Little Mountain Sportsplex. “The AED was installed only two hours before I had to use it on one of our players. I don’t want to think about what could have happened if the AED was not there. These machines save lives.”
Any recreational arena in Canada can apply for an AED through the National AED Initiative by visiting the HSF website.
