Defibrillator used to save woman’s life at Union Station

We often pass defibrillators in public and don’t think twice about how important they can be at saving a life.

On Monday, a defibrillator was used to save a woman’s life at Union Station.

When she collapsed at the station, transit safety officers rushed to her with a defibrillator and took over before paramedics arrived. She had a pulse when she was taken to hospital.

Meanwhile, last week someone stole a defibrillator at the Bloor GO/UP Express station. Metrolinx’s Anne Marie Aikins assumes it was stolen for a Halloween costume.

It has since been replaced but that theft could have been deadly for someone.

Up to 40,000 cardiac arrests occur each year in Canada. For every minute of delay in defibrillation, the chance of survival decreases by up to 10 per cent.

There are more than 450 city-owned sites with defibrillators where people have been trained on how to use them.

The city also runs a program to certify people through Toronto Paramedics Services.

It’s important to note that you don’t need any formal training to use any of the public access defibrillators.