Welcome to the EHS AED Registry Program. Through the promotion of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and increasing CPR and AED awareness, the program is committed to helping save lives in Nova Scotia and beyond. The core function of the registry is to help improve sudden cardiac arrest survival rates by rapidly linking AEDs, AED responders and sudden cardiac arrest patients. The registry works with members of the general public to help register publicly accessible and private AEDs to create a useful database of these devices so that this information can be integrated within our EHS Medical Communications Centre. There are two different pathways where integration can be helpful. The first pathway is for the communication officer to direct a secondary bystander to grab an AED that may be nearby, and the second pathway is for the system to alert volunteer community responders that a cardiac arrest has occurred so that they may bring an AED and more CPR help to the scene. The registry will also send AED maintenance and expiry notifications, ensuring that their device is always maintained and up to date.

The registry has enabled an automated, online approach to maintaining and tracking AEDs in Nova Scotia. Managed by Emergency Health Services (EHS), our program is using GoodSAM Medical (GoodSAM™) to support this important initiative.

While the registry deals with AEDs, it is important to note that an AED is only one link in the Chain of Survival. Recognizing an emergency and calling 911, and performing CPR are equally two very important links to someone’s chance of survival and are also promoted under our program.

Goals for the EHS AED Registry Program include:

• Promote the importance of AEDs and increase the quantity of these devices throughout the province
• Ensure that all registered AEDs in Nova Scotia are properly maintained and up-to-date
• Increase awareness that early CPR and AEDs can save a life
• Promote CPR and AED training
• Increase survival rates for sudden out-of-hospital cardiac arrests

A sudden cardiac arrest can happen anywhere. Are you prepared?