MARS joins Comox Fire Rescue AED program!

Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society (MARS) has collaborated with the Comox Firefighters Association to add yet another automatic external defibrillator (AED) in the Comox Valley.

This one will be located at the MARS facilities located at 1331 William Beach Road, Black Creek.

This wonderful group sees the value of having this important piece of equipment available to their volunteers, staff and guests.

Photo: Lt. Sandy Pridmore, MARS Darlene Banerd, MARS, Warren Warttig and Captain Rob Stevens

Chief Gord Schreiner states: “It is great to see organizations like this assisting us in our efforts to get more public access AEDs available. I am also very proud of our firefighters for their on-going support of this important project. We have now partnered with various groups to get more than fifty AEDS placed and our firefighters have invested over $60,000.00 of non tax dollars in this important project over the past ten years.

Public access AEDS are very simple to use, maintain and can save lives!

A public access AED costs approximately $2000.00. The Comox firefighters have been co-sponsoring the AEDS with local Comox groups and businesses who agree to donate half of this amount ($1000.00). The Comox firefighters cover the remaining cost. They also provide both CPR and AED training to the businesses staff. The Comox Firefighters Association receives many request each year and assesses each request to determine which ones they can assist.

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can strike at any time—during work, while at church, or while visiting your local business. Fewer than 10% of SCA victims typically survive, but studies show that 30% to 50% 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. Public Access Defibrillation programs include both access to AEDS and training.

Comox Fire Rescue knows the value of AEDs as they carry AEDs on all of their emergency vehicles and also have one mounted in their fire station.

Please contact Comox Fire Rescue at firehall@comox.ca if you have any questions.