More than 40,000 Canadians lose their lives each year due to sudden cardiac arrest, according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. However, public access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in municipally-managed facilities across Vaughan has given residents an increased chance of survival in the event of emergency.

What is an AED?

An AED is a portable device used to treat victims of sudden cardiac arrest. If necessary, an AED will deliver an electric shock to the heart providing an opportunity for it to resume beating effectively.

These devices are safe, easy to use, and can be used effectively by medical and non-medical personnel to help save lives. When used in conjunction with CPR in the first few minutes, these devices can increase the odds of survival by more than 50 per cent.

AEDs in City of Vaughan Public Facilities

In June 2010, the City of Vaughan installed its first AED inside a community park, providing close access to an AED for recreational baseball associations using Tudor District Park baseball diamonds.

In partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, the City of Vaughan recently acquired and installed 22 AEDs in Vaughan public facilities, bringing its total to 45 across the city - currently the largest of any municipality in York Region.

All City of Vaughan Community Centres, the Civic Centre and the Joint Operations Centre are equipped with one or more AED units. Each AED kit also contains a pair of gloves, scissors, razor, sanitation wipes and facemask barrier device with a one-way filter for CPR.