When Russ suffered a heart attack, his wife Cathy got him to the hospital in time, but the scare changed everything.
“We were lucky,” Cathy says. “If it had been sudden cardiac arrest, we wouldn’t have made it. Help is just too far away.”
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is a medical emergency where the heart suddenly stops. Without CPR and a defibrillator (AED) within 10 minutes, survival is unlikely.
That frightening reality inspired Russ and Cathy to act.
They launched a Neighbourhood SaveStation Program, rallying their neighbours to pitch in for a shared AED cabinet. “We each contributed $150,” Cathy says. “Now we have 24/7 AED access at the boathouse, for anyone who needs it.”
Next they hosted a one-hour group training session. “It was surprisingly fun,” Russ laughs. “Most of us hadn’t done CPR in years, and everyone was amazed at how easy AEDs are to use.”
The Philips Home AED talks users through every step, boosting confidence and saving precious time. Their SaveStation also sends an automatic alert when opened to a group chat letting others know help is needed.
What began with a health scare has blossomed into a movement. “It brought our community closer,” Cathy says. “We feel safer and more connected.”
Their advice? If you can’t reach an AED in under four minutes, it’s time to start your own program.
“Action First Aid made it easy,” Russ adds. “They were with us every step of the way.”
Deb Hennig, President of Action First Aid, says that’s the mission. “This is a grassroots, Canadian movement — neighbours caring for each other. That’s the power of community.”
