MP Vic Toews applauded Prime Minister Stephen Harper as he announced that our Government is working with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada to put in place Automated External Defibrillators and related training in community hockey arenas across the country in order to help save lives.
“Recreational arenas are a focal point for many communities throughout the country, particularly in rural regions,” said Toews. “Our Government is committed to protecting the health and safety of Canadians while encouraging active and healthy lifestyles.”
According to the HSFC, up to 40,000 Canadians experience a sudden cardiac arrest each year and, on average, only about 5% of them survive. Access to early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation could potentially save the lives of thousands of Canadian children and adults each year.
Government of Canada support for this four-year initiative – which is being provided through the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Automated External Defibrillators program – will allow the HSFC to coordinate the installation of, and training for, defibrillators. This initiative delivers on a commitment made by the Prime Minister in April 2011.
Phase one of the initiative, currently underway, will assess the needs of 3,000 community hockey arenas in Canada and will result in an implementation plan. Phase two, beginning in spring 2013, includes providing the necessary training to attendants and will see the rollout and installation of the defibrillators, according to the plan.
