As part of his Health Plan, Health Minister Christian Dubé intends to make 1,000 defibrillators available across the province.
This is what the “Global Strategy for the Deployment of 1,000 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for the Quebec Population” provides, presented by Minister Dubé earlier in the day on Monday.
“With approximately 10,000 people suffering from cardiorespiratory arrest each year in Quebec, we need to adopt such a strategy. The rapid application of first aid maneuvers can triple a victim’s chances of survival and allow us to save 200 additional people annually,” the minister said.
In a first phase, 100 machines will be installed in the ATMs of the Caisse Desjardins and the National Bank, due to the ease of access to these places and their regional distribution.
The other 900 defibrillators will then be deployed depending on the results of this first phase, with the aim of ensuring the most complete coverage possible.
The Minister’s strategy also includes the establishment of a national register of AEDs in Quebec, in collaboration with the Jacques-de-Champlain Foundation. This register makes it possible to geolocate the devices, which will allow the health communication center to provide this information to the caller.
In a press release, the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS) announced that it is committed to contributing to the financing, deployment and updating of this register.
Finally, Christian Dubé expressed that he would like the adoption of a specific law on public access to defibrillation throughout the territory. This law would notably include the places that should have an AED, the role and responsibilities of these places, as well as the registration of AEDs in the national register.
