Council wants public defibrillation program
By ALAN LICZYK Staff Reporter

With a goal of providing early response to cardiac arrest situations, Caledon council has directed staff to develop a public access defibrillation program.

The program would use automated external defibrillators installed in the Town's major public facilities.

Eriks Eglite, director of recreation and property services, told Councillor Allan Thompson a defibrillator package costs about $3,000 to $3,500.

Councillor Jason Payne wanted a pilot project started at the Don Sheardown Memorial Arena in Bolton because there is a donor.

Eglite responded they should have one system and be consistent in all of the Town's facilities.

Many municipalities are trying to be proactive to the issue of sudden cardiac arrest and have equipped their municipal facilities with automated external defibrillators.

The Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation noted 35,000 to 45,000 people die of sudden cardiac arrest each year in Canada.