Memorial University has a new automated external defibrillator (AED) installed in every building on campus.

Every year, more than 45,000 Canadians suffer from a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

The person’s heart stops beating or stops beating effectively, they lose consciousness and blood flow to the brain, and vital organs are cut off. If their heart is not restarted within a few minutes, brain damage and death occur. Less than 5 per cent of SCAs outside a hospital survive because of delays in recognizing the cardiac emergency and access to appropriate care.

Environmental Health and Safety has installing an automated external defibrillator (AED) in every buildings on the St. John’s campus, Grenfell Campus and the Marine Institute campus.

St. John's Campus AED Locations

How they work

AEDs analyze the hearts rhythm and deliver an electrical shock to restore the heart to normal rhythm. Research has shown that early defibrillation can reduce premature death from a SCA and using an AED with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) within the first three minutes of a cardiac arrest can increase the chance of survival by up to 75 per cent. 

To see a demonstration video, click here.

Each AED has an owner, or department, assigned to it. It is the owners responsibility to maintain the AED program through its Occupational health and Safety Committee. The program includes visually inspecting AEDs regularly as well as software updates or upgrades.