Clayton Community Centre unveils new public-access defibrillator station

Residents in the rural community of Clayton will now have around-the-clock access to lifesaving emergency equipment following the installation of a new outdoor automated external defibrillator (AED) station at the Clayton Community Centre.

In a public announcement, Mississippi Mills Mayor Christa Lowry shared that she joined community volunteers and municipal officials earlier this week for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrating the launch of the new SaveStation AED cabinet.

The device provides Clayton residents with 24/7 public access to an AED, which may prove critical in the event of a medical emergency.

According to Lowry, the secure, temperature-controlled cabinet is designed to keep the AED accessible year-round and ready for use during emergencies. If needed, the device can be removed entirely from the station and taken directly to a nearby medical situation off-site.

“A big thank you goes out to the Clayton Community Centre and the team of volunteers who brought a new outdoor SaveStation AED cabinet to the community,” Lowry said in her statement.

Lowry also highlighted the importance of quick action and AED accessibility in the event of a cardiac emergency, particularly in rural communities where first responders may face longer travel times.

To emphasize this point, Lowry shared statistics outlining that a sudden cardiac arrest occurs every nine minutes in Canada and that roughly half of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests involve people under the age of 60.

“The takeaway was clear: when a sudden cardiac arrest occurs, every second counts,” Lowry stated. “In rural areas like Clayton, family, friends and neighbours need to be ready to step in as the first line of response while emergency responders are en route.”

Lanark County Paramedic Service Commander Janice Steele also attended the event to provide brief demonstrations on how to use the AED equipment and properly perform CPR.

Lowry noted that additional community training opportunities are expected in the future to help residents become more comfortable using the equipment to be able to utilize it during emergencies.