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Harmony Hall in Gibsons is now equipped with a life-saving defibrillator thanks to the BC PAD program, a joint initiative implemented by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) that provides free public access defibrillators (PAD) to communities across the province.
Home to the Gibsons Seniors Society, Harmony Hall hosts a variety of events including line-dancing, table tennis, cards, carpet bowling, wellness exercises, Tai Chi, and seminars. It’s this breadth of activity that makes Harmony Hall the ideal location for a public defibrillator.
“This defibrillator will help our paramedics save lives,” said Scott Spain, Sechelt Unit Chief and PAD Program Champion.
On April 22, Spain provided on-site training to 11 staff members and volunteers at Harmony Hall. Spain explained how to administer CPR and use a defibrillator in a cardiac emergency and will also provide ongoing equipment oversight for the staff.
In 2015/2016, BCEHS paramedics responded to 3,864 sudden cardiac arrests throughout the province. Without immediate help, a sudden cardiac arrest victim will suffer brain damage within three minutes. After 12 minutes, survival is unlikely. Evidence shows that when CPR and automated external defibrillators are used together in the first few minutes during a sudden cardiac arrest, survival rates can be doubled.
For more information on the BC PAD Program, please visit the website: https://www.bcpadprogram.ca/
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