Areas of Toronto Need Life-Saving Defibrillators
Public access defibrillators (AEDs) are becoming more common across Toronto, but a University of Toronto study reveals that several busy downtown areas are still underserved. Despite AEDs being proven life-saving tools—capable of restoring a normal heart rhythm during sudden cardiac arrest—gaps in placement may put lives at risk.
Study Highlights Gaps in AED Coverage
Engineering professor Timothy Chan analyzed years of cardiac arrest data and AED locations to determine where the devices are needed most. His mathematical model identifies areas with high numbers of cardiac arrests but limited AED access.
Chan’s study highlights 10 downtown hot spots, including:
Queen & Bay
Dundas & Spadina
Jarvis & Gerrard
These are high-traffic, dense neighbourhoods where cardiac arrests are more likely—yet AEDs are not always within easy reach.
Currently, Ontario has no regulations that dictate where AEDs must be installed. As a result, placement decisions are inconsistent and often left to individual businesses or building owners.
Chan hopes his findings will help shape policy and improve AED accessibility across the city.
You can read the full CBC News article here:
👉 Areas of Toronto need life-saving defibrillators
The 100-Metre Rule: Why Distance Matters
In a medical emergency, every second counts. Chan emphasizes that in dense urban cores like downtown Toronto, a person should not need to walk more than 100 metres to reach an AED.
This benchmark matters because:
Survival rates drop by 7–10% per minute without CPR or defibrillation.
Rapid access to AEDs dramatically increases the likelihood of survival.
Bystanders are more willing and able to help when an AED is close and easy to locate.
Better AED placement could significantly improve survival rates during sudden cardiac arrest, especially in crowded public areas.
Why First Aid and AED Training Is Essential
Improving AED access is critical—but community readiness is equally important. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and AED use can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival when performed quickly.
Training empowers bystanders to:
Recognize cardiac arrest
Provide effective CPR
Use an AED with confidence
Learn More & Get Involved
Additional resources:
Serving Calgary and the surrounding areas the lowest priced, highest quality OH&S approved first aid training, CPR and food safety courses for over 15 years!
Support locally-owned and Canadian-operated businesses, with no partnerships or links with American corporations.