FORT FRANCES—Since having defibrillators in public places may save many (if not more) lives than the most efficient emergency medical system, an automatic external defibrillator (AED) is now in place for use at the Fort Frances High School and the Townshend Theatre.
Located in a wall cabinet in the atrium outside the library, the device will be able to help in case an individual suffers cardiac arrest while in the building.
John Beaton, co-ordinator of the first response team at the high school, noted this is a big step for the community as it is the first AED in Fort Frances to be placed in an area with such large public access.
He explained while the school setting may seem like an unusual location for a defibrillator, since sudden cardiac arrest from normal causes is uncommon in children, Fort High often is used for community events.
“There are sporting events, theatrical productions, and ceremonies that attract adults to the school,” Beaton stressed. “And teenagers can also suffer cardiac arrest from a blow to the chest, which can be caused by a ball or collision with another player in sports.”
During days when the Red Cross-certified volunteer student medical first response team is on call, they will be responsible for using the AED. At other times, the custodial staff or any member of the public trained to use an AED can use it.
“It’s great to have because before all we could do is CPR and now there’s a much better chance to save the person,” noted Benjamin Robinson, a Grade 11 student and first responder.
Robinson, along with Grade 10 student Tirzah Keffer, who also is a member of the first response team at Fort High, offered up a demonstration in the atrium on Tuesday on how they would use the AED in an emergency.
They began by conducting CPR on a medical dummy, then used an AED training device to show how it can shock the heart into resuming a normal rhythm.
“It took a lot of work to get [the defibrillator] here and the kids have worked very hard to become trained to use it,” Beaton noted, adding there are 26 members of the Red Cross-certified volunteer student medical first response team.
“It’s pretty easy to use. You just have to follow what it says because it gives audio prompts,” Robinson noted, adding they participated in after-school training sessions from September to December, as well as holding practices throughout the school year.
“This is what’s going to save people,” stressed Beaton, referring to the AED. “It is almost impossible for paramedics to get to the scene within three minutes, which is the optimal time.”
When defibrillation occurs in less than three minutes, 70 percent of victims have the potential to survive if there is a shockable rhythm.
Beaton explained while CPR maintains oxygen to the brain, it doesn’t revive the heart. For every minute delay in getting defibrillation, there is a seven-10 percent drop in the chance of survival.
Having the AED at Fort Frances High School was made possible by donations from the Royal Canadian Legion in Emo, Fort Frances Kiwanis Club, MacDonald Motors, Rainy River District Safety Coalition, Robertson Ltd., and the Royal Bank (Fort Frances branch).
“It’s really great to have because the number of saves will increase,” Beaton remarked. “There has been a mandate to put AEDs in schools for eight years and since we already had a first response team, it fit with all the equipment we already have.”
He noted the first response team has equipment, such as oxygen, to help the patient breathe and a device to keep the airway open.
“They have responded to calls before and they do a great job,” Beaton stressed. “There’s a lot of repetition and they know what they’re doing. They are a really big help.”
He added Rainy River District is sure to see more automatic external defibrillators installed in public places in the future since the Heart and Stroke Foundation has purchased 25 devices for the area.
(Fort Frances Times)
Fort Frances Times
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