Rotarians lead effort for defibrillators in recreational facilities

For Immediate Release:

Calgary – The high risk of death from sudden cardiac arrest will soon be reduced for Calgarians who use several community recreational facilities.

Thanks to the joint efforts of the Rotary Club of Calgary Centennial, the Calgary Foundation, the Calgary Emergency Medical Services Foundation, Access Medical and thirteen community associations, automated external defibrillator (AED) machines will become standard equipment at recreational facilities across the city.

"Sudden cardiac arrest kills more adults every year in Canada than any other cause," says Mark Doucet, Director of Community Services with the Centennial Rotary Club. "AED's can dramatically improve the odds of survival."

The gravity of the problem is illustrated by statistics from Calgary EMS. In 1998, paramedics responded to 282 instances of sudden cardiac arrest. Only two of the victims survived. "We believe defibrillation could have saved a significant number of those people," says Calgary EMS Foundation chairman Steve Donaldson. "Research in Canada has shown that early defibrillation saves lives. The chance for survival from cardiac arrest decreases 10% for every minute the victim is pulseless. If AED defibrillation can occur within the first three minutes of cardiac arrest, the chances of survival increase substantially."

For the community associations involved, the machines come as a welcome relief. "These facilities often have middle aged players -- 'weekend warriors'-- playing vigorous hockey once a week, and curling sheets with players of all ages" says Pat Laughton, a former pro hockey player and manager of the Crowchild Twin Arena. "At our facility we run senior hockey leagues with players into their 70's and 80's. We've been waiting for these machines for quite some time. "

The AED units are being purchased from Access Medical who are also donating a unit at no cost.

More than half of the almost $70,000 for the AED's have come from the Calgary Foundation. "The Calgary Foundation is proud to support worthwhile projects within the Calgary community and we are a big supporter of this project" says Janet Lavoie, grants associate with the Calgary Foundation.

Fact sheet

For More Information:

Rotary Centennial Spokesperson: Mark Doucet

Phone Number 268-6485

Calgary EMS Foundation Spokesperson: Steve Donaldson

Phone Number 268-8240

Calgary Foundation Spokesperson: Janet Lavoie

Phone Number 264-1662

Access Medical Spokesperson: Gary Barker

Phone Number 248-2232