KAMLOOPS – Thompson Rivers University announced today that it has instituted a Heart Safe Workplace program, a component of which is placing AEDs (automated external defibrillators) in the workplace to make early defibrillation immediately available in cardiac emergencies and increase chances of surviving a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

“Because every minute counts when sudden cardiac arrest strikes, TRU is placing AEDs in key locations on campus. We will also provide training to employees who volunteer to be part of an emergency response team,” said TRU President Roger Barnsley.

“Our goal is to protect the lives of our employees,” added Doug Sweeney, Occupational Health & Safety manager at TRU. “CPR is not enough. It is a temporary measure that helps maintain blood flow to the brain. A lifesaving pulse of electricity, defibrillation, is the only treatment and must be delivered quickly to restore the heart’s normal rhythm. Having the AEDs on-site increases access to early defibrillation and helps us save lives.”

Every year, sudden cardiac arrest claims the lives of at least 250,000 people each year. The only known treatment for sudden cardiac arrest is the use of a defibrillator, which uses a powerful electric shock to stop the abnormal heart rhythm and allow the heart to return to a more normal beating pattern. Survival rates for sudden cardiac arrest are less than two per cent when defibrillation is delayed ten minutes or more.

Unlike models of defibrillators intended for use by health care professionals, AEDs do not require extensive medical knowledge to understand or operate. The expertise needed to analyze the heart’s electrical function is programmed into the device, and enables ordinary people to provide treatment to victims of SCA. A four-hour training session, covering both AEDs and cardiopulmonary resuscitation is all that is necessary to learn how to use the device.

For more information, please contact Douglas Sweeney at (250) 371-5805 or by email.