When Every Second Counts

Story appeared in the 2015 issue of QMS Connections Magazine.

BY LEANNE SCHULTZ, OPERATIONS & HR MANAGER

Tracey McDill, LPN, (School Nurse), Andy Young (Junior School Athletic Director), and Tom Nowlin (Facilities) pose by one of two AED devices at QMS. All three staff members hold a WorkSafe BC OFA Level 2 certification. Over 100 members of the QMS staff hold OFA Level 1 certification or an equivalent.

According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, someone suffers a cardiac arrest approximately every 12 minutes in Canada. Without rapid treatment, most of these cardiac arrests will result in death.

Thanks in part to a generous donation by alumna Lea Burburuz (1958-1960), Queen Margaret’s School has purchased two portable automatic external defibrillators (AEDs). Combined with CPR, the use of an AED is shown to increase the likelihood of survival by more than 75%. Placed in two central high-traffic, public areas in the school (the gymnasium and the Residence Atrium), these readily accessible AEDs are an integrated part of the school’s commitment to protecting the welfare of its students, staff and community.