Resident installs AED outside his house
Chris Troughton believes that defibrillators save lives. They’ve saved his four times.
Troughton was thinking about getting an automated external defibrillator (AED) for his own home, but then he met Action First Aid’s Roger Hennig, who converted Troughton to the idea that an AED could be shared with an entire neighbourhood by placing it in a weatherproof cabinet in front of his house.
“It makes sense because it’s available to more people. We have all kinds of people in this neighbourhood, from little kids to seniors. We have a hockey rink three minutes away,” says Troughton, who in 2010 was driving home after playing hockey when he felt a burning sensation, so he insisted that his son drive him to hospital. He ended up in a coma for 10 days.
In 2013, Troughton had a triple bypass.
Action First Aid developed the cabinet, known by its SaveStation brand name, which keeps the defibrillator at an optimum temperature. There’s an alarm for security purposes, and messages are sent to the cellphones of up to 60 people in the neighbourhood as soon as the cabinet door is opened. As well, a camera takes a photo of the person who opens the door.
On Friday night, Troughton introduced the AED to his neighbours on Carsonbridge Circle in Kanata. Ottawa South Coun. Allan Hubley was one of his guests.
“You’ll find defibrillators in arenas and pools. This takes it to a whole new level. It’s a great idea,” Hubley said.
A sudden cardiac arrest happens in Canada every 13 minutes on average, said Carly Jackson, a defibrillator specialist with Action First Aid.
However, the survival rate is more than 75 per cent when an AED is employed within the first 10 minutes, she said.