|
?:abstract
|
-
Background: Out-of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is associated with poor outcomes, with only 10% reported survival Bystander CPR and early defibrillation with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) can increase survival up to 5-fold Currently, AEDs are used in 3% of OHCA cases in Toronto, compared to 20% in Seattle, where survival rates are double those in Toronto A small proportion of AEDs in Toronto are registered Over a one-year period, we set out to improve the AED landscape in Toronto This study had a 3-phased approach: (1) describe the AED landscape in Toronto, (2) increase AED registration and (3) advocate for mandatory AED legislation in Ontario Methods and Results: Phase 1: In January 2019, we created an online survey for local AED distributors and owners, to understand the process and proportion of AEDs registered in Toronto AED distributors were identified via online search engines and contacted to determine the number of AEDs sold and barriers to registration Phase 2: We developed and implemented an AED scavenger hunt, to both increase public awareness and find new and existing AEDs The hunt was a collaboration between Pulsepoint, Red Cross Canada, Peel Paramedics and researchers from St Michael’s Hospital Phase 3: In August 2019, we began advocating for the development of provincial legislation to create mandatory AED registration and maintenance in Ontario Phase 1: Of the 8 AED distributors identified in Toronto, 3 reported the sales of 11,800 AEDS over 20 years, which is 7-fold higher than what was currently in the public registry None of the 8 distributors were willing to distribute the AED owner survey on our behalf We learned that both the public and private sectors provide AED training and maintenance post-sales Phase 2: The AED Scavenger Hunt started March 1, 2020, and was interrupted by the COVID pandemic 1,301 AEDs were identified using the Pulsepoint AED app during a 2-week period and remain available to the public Phase 3: In August 2019, we presented our vision for a provincial AED registry to our local Members of Provincial Parliament and the Minister of Health Bill 141 was created and has passed first and second hearings at Parliament with a final hearing scheduled in the summer of 2020 Conclusion: This three phased AED initiative illustrates that by engaging the community and local government, it is possible to increase both AED registration and access to AEDs, with the ultimate goal of improving survival from OHCA
|
![[This page as RDF]](https://research.tib.eu/covid-19/static/rdf-icon.gif){kind=icon}