TORONTO, ON--A public access defibrillator at a downtown TTC station has been sent to the manufacturer for testing after it apparently failed earlier this month when subway riders tried to shock a fellow commuter who suffered (sudden cardiac arrest).
The automated external defibrillator at Museum Station, one of 1,400 such medical devices in the city that they are responsible for monitoring, was functioning properly Nov. 8, according to their diagnostics, Toronto EMS said Friday.
So exactly what happened that evening is a mystery.
“These AEDs are highly maintained,” EMS spokesman Kim McKinnon said. “And we are alerted immediately if there is a problem.”
On the night in question, several sources told the Toronto Sun TTC riders on a northbound train witnessed a man in his late 60s or early 70s go into arrest.
Two witnesses, a doctor and a nurse, rushed to the senior’s aid and began CPR. It’s believed they attempted to use an AED from a wall in the station to revive the man, but for some reason it didn’t work.
“It appears the public access defibrillator had a dead battery,” Toronto Fire Capt. Mike Strapko said.
He said firefighters and paramedics arrived within a few short minutes and used their own defibrillator.
“The patient was shocked four times,” Strapko said. “Unfortunately he didn’t pull through.”
He said responders were able to get a pulse at one point but the senior was pronounced dead at hospital.
McKinnon said AEDs are connected to a power source and remain charged at all times.
The devices also routinely conduct “self-testing” and alert Toronto EMS of any issues, including problems with the battery.
“We were alerted immediately when the AED (at Museum Station) was used,” McKinnon said. “And our diagnostics show it was working.”
She said the defibrillator was picked up after the incident and it powered up when opened, as it should.
The AED was sent to the manufacturer for an assessment and McKinnon said Toronto EMS is anxiously awaiting the results.
Their AEDs saved nine lives last year alone, so it is important to find out what went wrong, she said.
“We promote bystanders to perform CPR and use the AEDs,” McKinnon said, adding the devices are easy to use and require no training. “We want people to use the AEDs to try to help save a life.”
SOURCE: Toronto Sun