Community Services Section

Defibrillation

Every year, twenty three thousand lives are claimed by sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in Canada and 50% of these people will die before reaching the hospital. This makes sudden cardiac arrest one of the leading causes of death among Canadian adults today. These statistics reflect the urgency to promote and educate the importance of the “Chain of Survival.” Two of the important links in the Chain of Survival are Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and early access to defibrillation.

The combination of CPR and early defibrillation are the most important interventions that will improve the survival rates of Canadians who suffer from SCA. While CPR alone will support circulation and ventilation of a victim of SCA for a very short period of time, it is unlikely that it will convert Ventricular Fibrillation (VF) or Pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia (PVT) to a viable heart beat. Any chance for restoration of a sustainable rhythm requires the administration of CPR and defibrillation within minutes of the SCA.

Statistically, the earlier the victims are defibrillated from a cardiac arrest due to VF or PVT, the higher the rate of survival will be. As every minute passes from the time of the arrest, the victim’s chances for survival are lowered by 7%-10%. The Heart and Stroke Foundation of New Brunswick advocates and supports all efforts to provide early and effective defibrillation to victims of SCA.

In the Miramichi region, the local Emergency Medical Service (EMS) has a higher average response time to local emergencies. However, this does not reflect the expert clinical support and treatment the Miramichi EMS provides. In reality, it is due to the large geographical area of the region. Knowing the local EMS organization has an increased response time, the Miramichi Police Force is dispatched to respond to all medical emergencies within the region. This allows the police force to be the first on the scene in many cases.

The Miramichi Police Force, being a community focused police force, strives to reduce these response times and the number of statistical sudden cardiac arrests in the City of Miramichi by developing and implementing an Automated External Defibrillation Program (AED).

In implementing this program, it has allowed the officer and community to react and receive emergency cardiac care immediately when the officer arrives on the scene.