The Importance of AEDs in Schools

tempfirstaidBlog, Safety

The Importance of AEDs in Schools

It’s back to school again and the First Aid Canada Team wants to ensure nationwide safety in our schools and that means becoming educated on the importance of Automated External Defibrillators. AEDs are now becoming more and more prevalent in public settings, especially schools.

Every year, over 40,000 Canadians suffer sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) – that’s one incident every 12 minutes. School-aged children are not immune to cardiac arrest, an estimated 5,000-7,000 children die from SCA each year. Often these unfortunate incidences occur on school grounds or playing fields, as contact sport injuries can increase the odds of an SCA event. 

Check out this informative video on Matt Keene, a 17-year-old athlete who went into cardiac arrest following football practice in New Hampshire whose life was saved thanks to an AED:
 

AEDs do not just protect the student athletes, but anyone on school or campus grounds who may suffer SCA. A recent study of SCA events at NCAA Division I schools found that older nonstudents such as teachers, spectators, coaches and officials accounted for 77% of SCA cases at sporting venues.

SCA strikes people of all different ages and fitness levels without any warning. Are your teachers, coaches and children prepared for an emergency?

First Aid Canada is pleased to offer three different AED models recommended for school settings:

Life is Precious. Be Prepared.