First Aid & AED

AEDs have been installed in a variety of UBC Okanagan buildings to provide quick responses in the event of a cardiac arrest.
An AED is a portable unit that provides a life-saving shock to a person in sudden cardiac arrest. Sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart unexpectedly and abruptly stops beating.
Once applied, the AED analyzes a patient’s heart activity and determines if a life-saving shock is required. The AED cannot deliver a shock unless the person is in cardiac arrest.

Using a defibrillator is safe and straightforward, and its light weight means it can be carried to where it is needed. Once activated, the device provides easy-to-follow voice instructions and automatically determines if someone requires a life-saving shock. Defibrillators cannot harm, and will only deliver a life-saving shock if it is required in the case of cardiac arrest. It will not shock someone accidentally.
See the short video below for a demonstration of using the LIFEPAK CR Plus AED.

Automated External Defibrillators or AEDs are available in several publicly accessible spaces across UBC’s Okanagan campus.
The portable AED devices will be located in a white cabinet and have an AED sign above the unit.
In the event of an emergency, when a defibrillator is required, 9-1-1 dispatchers can also provide directions to the nearest AED.

Can I use a defibrillator if I don’t have specific qualifications?

Defibrillators are simple for anyone, anywhere to use. They are equipped with automated voice instructions to guide the user on how to use the device. The defibrillator itself determines if a life-saving shock is required or not.

Am I at risk of legal action if I misuse a defibrillator?

The Good Samaritan Act of British Columbia protects defibrillator users when they are using the device to provide emergency medical services to a person in sudden cardiac arrest.

What if I am unsure if a person is in sudden cardiac arrest or not?

The defibrillator is designed to only deliver a life-saving shock if a patient is in cardiac arrest. Defibrillators are capable of analyzing a patient’s heart activity and determining if a life-saving shock is required.

Will the defibrillator hurt someone?

No. You cannot cause harm to a person with a defibrillator because the device will only deliver a life-saving shock if a person requires it. Defibrillators are capable of analyzing a patient’s heart activity and determining if a life-saving shock is required.

Once an AED has been used do I need to notify anyone?

Contact Campus Security at 250-807-8111 when an AED is used on campus. Security will retrieve the used AED and replace it with a temporary unit.

What do I do if I notice an AED missing from its storage unit?

Contact Health, Safety, and Environment who manage AEDs on campus (hse.ok@ubc.ca)

The goals of the program are to:

• Save lives
• Harm reduction through awareness/education, drug testing and community support services
• Enhance awareness of overdose identification, response and associated campus supports
• Provide immediately available and easy to use life saving nasal naloxone on UBC campuses

The program coordinates the following elements into a comprehensive strategy in an attempt to prevent drug overdoses within our community:

• Awareness & Education: from posters to an online awareness course (coming shortly to WPL) and in person supports and education (HaRT)
• Response Capacity: equipped and trained first responders (Campus Security and EFRT) as well as strong processes and relationships with local external first response agencies
• Public Access Nasal Naloxone: There are 28 public access naloxone cabinets, each with two doses of nasal naloxone, installed across campus. For academic and administrative buildings, these cabinets have been installed in most building lobbies adjacent to AEDs. For residence buildings, cabinets have been installed in foyers (in laundry rooms in the Cascades townhouses) and a few additional high traffic locations (map to come).

It is important to recognize the signs and symptoms for drug poisoning and to act quickly in order to save lives. Although a drug poisoning might look different from one person to the next, there are things you can look for if you suspect that someone may have overdosed on an opioid:

• Non responsive (not moving and cannot be woken)
• Slow, shallow breathing or not breathing
• Blue lips and nails
• Person may be choking, making gurgling sounds, or snoring
• Cold, clammy skin
• Pupils are tiny

S – STIMULATE: Speak to them, squeeze their fingertips or the muscle between their neck and shoulder.

          NOTE: IF they are not responsive, call 9-1-1 and campus security 250-807-8111.

A – AIRWAY: Check if they are breathing normally, check for pulse, remove anything in their mouth.

V – VENTILATE: Lift chin and tilt head back. Give 1 breath every 5 seconds.

E – EVALUATE: Check breathing, responsiveness and pulse again

M – MEDICATE: Give Naloxone if they are not breathing normally (inject 1 ampoutle (0.4mg) into arm or thigh muscle OR give 1 intranasal spray (4mg) in one nostril.

E – EVALUATE AND SUPPORT: Keep giving breaths, check breathing again, give additional doses of Naloxone at 3 minute intervals.

Am I at risk of legal action if I use naloxone on someone I suspect of experiencing a drug poisoning?

The Good Samaritan Act of British Columbia protects those who administer naloxone in good faith.

What is the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act?

The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act is a federal statute that applies to anyone seeking emergency support during an overdose, including the person experiencing an overdose.

The act protects you from legal recourse regarding charges for possession of controlled substances and breach of conditions regarding simple possession of controlled substances (pre-trial release, probation orders, conditional sentences, parole).

The Act protects the person who seeks help, whether they stay or leave from the overdose scene before help arrives. The Act also protects anyone else who is at the scene when help arrives.

What if I am unsure if a person is experiencing a drug poisoning or not?

The defibrillator is designed to only deliver a life-saving shock if a patient is in cardiac arrest. Defibrillators are capable of analyzing a patient’s heart activity and determining if a life-saving shock is required.

Will the administration of naloxone hurt someone?

No. Naloxone will not harm someone if you give it to them and they are not overdosing on an opioid.

Naloxone can be given safely to people of all ages, from infants to older adults. This includes an adolescent or young adult who may have unintentionally taken an opioid.

During an overdose, a person's breathing can be dangerously slowed or stopped, causing brain damage or death. It's important to recognize the signs and act fast, even before emergency workers arrive.

Once the Naloxome has been used do I need to notify anyone?

Contact Campus Security at 250-807-8111 when an AED is used on campus. Security will retrieve the used AED and replace it with a temporary unit.

What do I do if I notice Naloxone is missing from its storage cabinetor the cabinet is in ?

Contact Health, Safety, and Environment who manage AEDs on campus (hse.ok@ubc.ca)