Public Access Defibrillation programs focus on coordinating the placement of Automated External Defibrillators (AED) in strategic locations throughout the community where there is a chance someone could suffer a cardiac arrest.

Halton Region’s Emergency Medical Services provides businesses and municipal partners in Halton with assistance implementing public access defibrillation programs .

• What is public access defibrillation (PAD)?
• Why are PAD programs important?
• What is a defibrillator?
• How do you use a defibrillator?
• What symbol is used to identify that a facility has a defibrillator available?
• How can I introduce a PAD program at my organization?
• Additional questions about public access defibrillation

What is public access defibrillation?

Public Access Defibrillation programs place Automated External Defibrillators (AED’s) in strategic places throughout the community where there is a chance someone could suffer a sudden cardiac arrest.

top of page

Why are PAD programs important?

• PAD programs are important because every second counts during a cardiac emergency.
• PAD programs promote the importance of first aid training (such as CPR training ) as well as the Chain of Survival , which impacts the chances of survival for a person suffering a life threatening health emergency.
• In addition to early first aid and CPR, treating a person suffering from a cardiac arrest with a defibrillator (AED), prior to paramedics arriving can greatly increase the person’s chances of survival.
• For every minute that passes between a sudden cardiac arrest and the use of an AED, the chance of survival drops by 7-10%.

top of page

What is a defibrillator?

• An Automated External Defibrillator is a small portable device capable of analysing the electrical activity of a person’s heart determining if the heart would benefit from applying energy (‘a shock’).
• If the person’s condition would not be improved by applying a ‘shock’, the AED will not allow the user to apply energy – under any circumstance.
• The AED works by stopping the uncoordinated electrical activity of the heart, giving the heart a chance to re-establish a regular rhythm.

top of page

How do you use a defibrillator?

An AED must only be applied to a person who appears lifeless, which means unconscious, not breathing and showing no signs of circulation. Signs of circulation include regular breathing, coughing or movement.

An AED is applied to any person experiencing cardiac arrest. Medical conditions that could lead to cardiac arrest include:

• heart attack
• stroke
• seizure
• extreme shortness of breath.

Possible non-medical causes for cardiac arrest include:

• electrocution
• near drowning
• near suffocation
• trauma.

The AED should be brought to the patient’s side if they are experiencing any potential causes of cardiac arrest, but not applied unless they appear lifeless.

top of page

What symbol is used to identify that a facility has a defibrillator available?

This is a universal logo used to alert people that an AED is installed and available within a facility.

top of page

How can I introduce a PAD program at my organization?

• Halton Region provides businesses and municipal partners in Halton with assistance implementing public access defibrillation programs.
• Halton EMS will help you with site evaluations, Internal Emergency Response Plan Development, CPR and AED training, Medical Oversight, Critical Incidence Support, data management and periodic mock scenarios.

top of page

For more information , visit our section on establishing a workplace/facility Public Access Defibrillation program .