Summerside Police Department Gets First Defibrillator
The Summerside Police Department has taken a meaningful step toward improving emergency response by equipping one of its patrol cars with an automated external defibrillator (AED). Police officials hope this is just the beginning, with plans to add three more AEDs to patrol vehicles in the next budget year.
According to Cpl. Jason Blacquiere, police officers frequently arrive at vehicle collisions and medical emergencies before paramedics. In cardiac arrest situations, those first few minutes can be critical.
“It’s just another tool to help us better deal with the public and give assistance when we can,” Blacquiere said.
Why AED Access Is Critical
Across Canada, approximately 85% of cardiac arrests occur outside of hospitals. Without immediate intervention, survival chances decline rapidly. The American Heart Association reports that for every minute defibrillation is delayed, survival rates drop by 7–10%. After 12 minutes, survival chances fall to less than 5%.
Having AEDs readily available—especially with first responders like police—can dramatically improve outcomes in these life-threatening situations.
CPR and AEDs Save Lives
Research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology shows that when CPR and an AED are used within the first five minutes of cardiac arrest, survival rates can increase by nearly 75%.
Blacquiere says there have been several incidents in recent years where an AED could have been used and believes every patrol car should be equipped with one. AEDs are designed to be easy to use, even for non-medical responders.
Cost vs. Community Safety
The defibrillator purchased by the department cost approximately $2,000. While budget considerations remain a challenge, many emergency professionals agree the cost is small compared to the potential to save lives.
Be Prepared to Act
Stories like this highlight the importance of early intervention—not only by police and paramedics, but also by everyday citizens. Learning CPR and AED skills empowers people to act confidently during cardiac emergencies at work, in public spaces, or at home.
Residents interested in gaining these life-saving skills can learn more about CPR and AED training courses through Calgary First Aid:
👉 https://firstaidcalgary.ca/cpr-courses/
For full details on this story, read the original report from CBC News here:
👉 Summerside Police Department gets 1st defibrillator
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