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Golden Rec Plex receiving life saving equipment

The Heart and Stroke Foundation (HSF) has donated an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) which will be placed in the Mount 7 Rec Plex.
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Pictured above are Town of Golden recreation manager Jordan Petrovics and BC PAD Champion for Golden Carmen Oszust.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation (HSF) has donated an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)  which will be placed in the Mount 7 Rec Plex in Golden.

The HSF has been placing defibrillator in municipal venues such as recreation centres, pools and arenas across the British Columbia where there is an increased risk someone could suffer a sudden cardiac arrest.

Town of Golden recreation manager Jordan Petrovics said this is a great program for towns like Golden.

“The Heart and Stroke Foundation has been doing surveys with different communities to find out how many have Automated External Defibrillators in their public facilities in their communities,” he said. “We have one unit that we share between the arena and the pool. Through the assessment process the Mount 7 Rec Plex was identified as a place that could benefit from one of these units.”

Carmen Oszust is the BC Public Access Defilrillators Champion for Golden. She explained the defibrillator is safe and designed so that anyone can use one.

“However, evidence shows that people are more likely to use an AED if they are familiar with the device, so the foundation has partnered with the BC Ambulance Service to facilitate orientation sessions and provide ongoing support,” she said.

Petrovics explained that through the foundation’s Public Access to Defibrillation Program a complimentary defibrillator has been given to the town for the facility.

“We are offering a free training session for any members of the public who are interested in learning how to use the machine along with basic CPR as well,” he said.

The session will happen at the Mount 7 Rec Plex on July 9 at 5:30 p.m.

“We are encouraging the public to preregister because we need to know numbers.”

“I have volunteered my time as a  PAD Program Champion for this community as I know first hand the importance of early CPR and defibrillation in saving a life. My role is to facilitate a venue orientation session, provide support to help maintain the AED and to follow up with  a venue after someone suffers a sudden cardiac arrest. I am excited about the program and I hope that members of the community take advantage of this program. This orientation session is offered free of charge for up to six people who work at or frequent the venue,” Oszust said.

People can preregister by dropping by or calling the Golden Swimming Pool at (250) 344-2118 or email pool@golden.ca.