With the announcement last month by Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada CEO Rocco Rossi that Rainy River District will be getting five public access defibrillators, the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board and municipalities now have to decide where they should go.
For Fort Frances, that site just might be the Memorial Sport Centre—if council takes the advice of DSSAB health services manager Dan McCormick, who made a short presentation at last night’s council meeting.
“It’s a high-usage facility, and it’s used throughout the year,” noted McCormick as he recommended the site, adding the Heart and Stroke Foundation wants to put the public access defibrillators into every community’s arenas and community centres.
Public access defibrillators are devices that can be used if someone suffers a heart attack.
The device, which, like a fire extinguisher, would be hanging from a wall at the site it’s located, would be easily accessible during such emergencies.
The electronic device would talk the user through a series of steps, such as calling an ambulance, checking for breathing and heart activity, and performing CPR and chest compressions, in advance of professional emergency medical help.
“It’s very simple. Anyone can use it,” said McCormick. “That’s why they call them public access defibrillators.”
The Heart and Stroke Foundation will pay for the devices and the training.
The training, which will be provided to six individuals working at the chosen site, will be conducted by district emergency medical service staff (this staff would retrained on an annual basis).
The town would be responsible for making sure the public access defibrillator was in place and in working order (they run on batteries).
McCormick said public access defibrillators are becoming increasingly common, and are found at large corporations, government buildings (like the local jail), and even shopping malls.
As well, some municipalities, like Emo, already have purchased their own.
McCormick said the public access defibrillators cost about $3,000, but if purchased through DSSAB’s connections, could be obtained for $1,800-2,200.
(The defibrillators are single-use devices, meaning they have to be replaced once used).
He added DSSAB is trying to get the first five defibrillators into place right away, and has made a request to the Heart and Stroke Foundation for an additional five.
Coun. Sharon Tibbs suggested the Sister Kennedy Centre may be a good location for a public access defibrillator, to which McCormick said council will have to make that decision.
“It’s very interesting, and it’s something we should consider strongly,” said Mayor Roy Avis.
Council accepted McCormick’s presentation, and referred his request to designate the Memorial Sports Centre as a location for a public access defibrillator to the Community Services executive committee for its recommendation.
Also at last night’s meeting, council:
•heard executive committee reports from the chairpersons of the Administration and Finance, Community Service, and Planning and Development divisions;
•approved a break-open ticket licence application from the La Verendrye General Hospital Auxiliary at Bonnie Blue from June 26-Dec. 26, 2007;
•referred a request from the Business Improvement Association to amend Bylaw 32/78 to the Planning and Development executive committee for its recommendation; and
•referred a request from the BIA for exemption from certain electrical charges to the Administration and Finance executive committee for its recommendation.
Fort Frances Times
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