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Masters Soccer Club adds AED unit to its arsenal

The Comox Valley Masters Soccer Club has partnered with the Comox Firefighters Association on another public access automatic external defibrillator (AED). The club will have the unit availabe at games, practices and tournaments.
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Members of the Comox Valley Masters Soccer club received basic training for an AED unit at the Comox Firehall. Scott Stanfield photo

The Comox Valley Masters Soccer Club has partnered with the Comox Firefighters Association on another public access automatic external defibrillator (AED). The club will have the unit availabe at games, practices and tournaments.

“It is great to see groups like this assisting us in our efforts to make public access AEDs available everywhere,” Chief Gord Schreiner says. “I am so proud of our firefighters for their support of this important project. Our goal is to have public access AEDs everywhere.”

The portable units are simple to use and maintain — and can save lives.

The AED is used to treat sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). It checks the heart rhythm, and can send an electric shock to the heart to try to restore a normal rhythm.

A public access AED costs about $2,000. Comox firefighters have been co-sponsoring the AEDs with local businesses and groups that agree to donate half the amount. The firefighters cover the remainder. They also provide CPR and AED training to citizens.

Fewer than 10 per cent of SCA victims typically survive, but studies show that 30-50 per cent would likely survive if CPR and AEDs were used within five minutes of collapse. Communities across the country are responding by implementing Public Access Defibrillation programs.

Comox Fire Rescue carries AEDs on all emergency vehicles, and have one mounted in the fire station.

FMI: firehall@comox.ca