The Heart & Stroke Foundation is standing by its efforts to introduce more Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) into more public facilities, despite concerns raised about the 16-page contract accompanying the life-saving device.
The documents orders the non-profit to sign upon delivery of the AED, essentially saying they would take total responsibility for the defibrillator unit and all liability it might bring, including its maintenance, repair and full replacement cost if stolen, as well as insurance that includes 'commercial general liability on an occurrence basis, including for personal injury, death and property damage, and contractual liability, with limits of liability of not less than $2 million'. This special insurance coverage is required despite the fact that the Good Samaritan law in Canada states a person who provides emergency medical services or aid to an ill, injured or unconscious person, at the immediate scene of an accident, is not responsible legally for damages for injury.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation assured the ECRA that AEDs can save lives, are safe and designed so anyone can use one if they see someone suffering from sudden cardiac arrest. Despite that, the seniors on the board have reservations about the device, including taking on the added expense of more insurance, the added stress to seniors to save a life, including the emotional and the physical toll that might take.
"We're placing 450 AEDs in public venues in B.C. over two years," said Deborah Rusch with the Heart and Stroke Foundation. "These AEDs are donated to places where large numbers gather on a regular basis and/or emergency response times are longer than it would take to save someone with cardiac arrest."
The earlier you can get to someone, the better chance of survival, she added.
"That is why the AED is partnered with CPR," Rusch said. Along with the AED comes a four-hour orientation session.
Essentially, modern defibrillators are foolproof and will not send a charge to a beating heart. The modern machinery offers step-by-step instructions and literally talks the person through the process.
"It's a portable, safe device anyone can use to start a heart," said Rusch. "It reads the heart's rhythm and only delivers a shock if needed."
Because the ECRA has so many doubts about the installation of the AED in their facility, Rusch said she will offer a solution.
"On July 11, another seniors activity centre in P.G. is getting the AED and their members will be participating in the orientation session and we're thinking after that it might be a good idea for the Elder Citizens Recreation Association to go and see the unit because it's the unknown and perhaps they could get to talk to people who have been through it," said Rusch. "We've put units in other seniors' centres quite readily in B.C. and I think the push back is because the legality of it."
Rusch believes the municipality will take care of the liability of it, including the unit's upkeep, but as yet, this has not been confirmed by the City of Prince George and it's still a very real concern for the Elder Citizens Recreation Association.
