“Statistics show that each year in B.C. over 2,000 British Columbians
die from sudden cardiac arrest, and it remains one of the leading
causes of death among adults in the province, but for me, it was the
experience of applying CPR and then seeing this person out of
hospital and recovering shortly thereafter, that truly conveyed to me
the importance of CPR.

“When CPR and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are used
together in the first few minutes during a cardiac arrest, survival
rates increase up to 75%. AEDs are portable, easy-to-use devices that
read the heart’s rhythm and only deliver a shock if needed.

“Since 2013, the provincial government has invested $2 million in the
BC Public Access to Defibrillators (PAD) Program, which has been
matched by the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The BC PAD Program will
ensure 750 community AEDs are installed in public venues, such as
recreation centres, arenas and parks, throughout British Columbia, by
2017.