RCMP officers patrolling the northern Alberta communities of Conklin, Janvier, Anzac, Chard and Gregoire Lake have been equipped with what Wood Buffalo RCMP Operations Inspector Troy Switzer calls “potentially life-saving assistance.”
Automated External Defibrillators (AED) devices are now equipped in RCMP patrol vehicles serving the rural areas in the southern reaches of the Wood Buffalo jurisdiction. The purchase of the devices is not considered as substitute for emergency medical services, say police officials, but with RCMP in the rural communities generally being first at the scene of emergencies, it is an important service addition.
“We recognized that the Wood Buffalo RCMP officers conducting proactive patrols in these communities are usually first on scene at 911 calls and are often able to provide traditional CPR until EMS arrives,” noted Switzer. “This is a means to support our members efforts and improve their ability to provide potentially life-saving assistance during this critical period.”
The decision to equip RCMP members with the devices was made in consultation with leaders in these rural communities as well as Alberta Health Services and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.
All RCMP members are trained to use the AED systems which have been proven to significantly improve survival rates of individuals experiencing sudden cardiac arrest.
Switzer says the addition reflects the Wood Buffalo RCMP detachment’s commitment to the safety and well-being of the communities in our service area.
The Conklin community is about 140 kilometres north of Lac La Biche.
The RCMP devices are in addition to existing AED systems in the region. A registry of AED locations in northeastern Alberta can be found through the Alberta Health Services website at www.heart-safe.ca.
