Sept. 29 is World Heart Day, and what better way to celebrate it than to look after your heart. Keeping physically active, eating well, dropping the cigarettes and limiting alcohol are all ways to start.
When a stroke or cardiac arrest occur, getting the right care fast is critical. Each minute without oxygen and blood flow to the brain increases the risk of permanent damage and death. Every second counts. Each year an estimated 35,000 cardiac arrests occur in Canada. The majority happen in public places and at home and few people survive. But survival rates double if someone performs CPR and uses an automated external defibrillator (AED).
We are so lucky on our island that we have access to defibrillators in most neighbourhoods. The Rotary Club of Bowen Island in partnership with Bowen Island Municipality and members of the public (the AED Team) over the last four years have funded and installed 23 AEDs (defibrillators) on Bowen in various key locations and the Rotary Club has just been approved for a grant to install a further 10 AEDs. Fantastic news!
A few notable areas in our community where we have not yet installed AEDs are:
Bowen Court
Harding Rd.
Eagle Cliff
Bishops Hill
Sunset Dr.
Mount Gardner
Belterra
Collins Hall
Valahalla
Cates Hill
We are looking forward to talking with residents in those communities to help make a difference. If you live in a neighbourhood that would be interested in setting up the AED program, please contact Amanda Ockeloen at [email protected].
