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The Washington Township Police Department is stepping up its emergency response capabilities, thanks to a new partnership with Indian Lake EMS.

The two agencies recently worked together to equip police cruisers with Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) — a move that could make a life-saving difference during cardiac emergencies.

The collaboration came about when Chief Michael Thompson reached out to the Indian Lake EMS to discuss the need for AEDs in police vehicles.

Given that officers often arrive on the scene before EMS—especially in more remote areas like Washington Township and the Village of Lakeview—the addition of this equipment will allow them to take immediate action during critical incidents.

The Indian Lake EMS Association responded to the request without hesitation, helping facilitate the purchase of the devices, which run around $500 each.

Chief Thompson said, “Every second counts. While we have, in my opinion, one of the best emergency medical services around, sometimes our officers are able to arrive on scene to medical emergencies before a rescue squad. This piece of equipment is critical to the Washington Township Police Department’s mission to provide the best possible services to the residents we serve. ”

The partnership is especially meaningful, as two members of the Indian Lake EMS Joint Ambulance District also serve on the Washington Township Police force.

Link to origional article




Public Safety Division provides new ways to access, manage AEDs
Funding from the university now supports costs and replacements of automated external defibrillators across all Virginia Tech facilities.

By Catherine Szczur
22 MAY 2025

Virginia Tech is committed to the health and safety of its students, faculty, staff, and visitors. According to the American Heart Association more than 350,000 people in the United States experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital each year, with sudden cardiac arrest affecting more than 250,000 individuals annually.

The response time by emergency medical services (EMS) personnel is often more than the nationally accepted ideal time for defibrillation following an episode of sudden cardiac arrest. The use of automated external defibrillators (AED) does not replace the care provided by EMS but is meant to provide a lifesaving bridge during the first few minutes after sudden cardiac arrest. Virginia Code 8.01-225 protects people who operate an AED at the scene of an emergency, in good faith, without compensation, and in a reasonable manner, from civil liability.

Developing a comprehensive network of AEDs provides community members with the tools to aid someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. There are currently over 300 AEDs across all Virginia Tech facilities with over 200 on the Blacksburg campus. Further expansion of the AED program will increase availability not only on the main campus but also regional campuses and Agricultural Research and Extension Centers.

With the increase in the number of AEDs installed over the last few years, the program has moved from a distributed management model to a centrally managed program implemented by the Public Safety Division. The benefits of a centralized program include life cycle management to maintain the highest level of readiness, monthly AED equipment checks, replacement of pads and batteries, tracking the activation of the AED devices, and evaluation of future AED locations. These program changes will apply to AEDs across Virginia Tech properties throughout Virginia, not just the Blacksburg campus. The division is working with a third-party vendor to upgrade AEDs across the enterprise to standardize equipment and maintenance. In the past, departments were responsible for the costs and replacements of AEDs. Now, this cost will not fall on the departments.

Virginia Tech Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Amy Sebring and interim Associate Vice President for Public Safety Mike Mulhare are advocates for the AED program. “Under the leadership of Amy Sebring there has been an increased focus on centralizing key public safety initiatives to further enhance the services and resources provided to the Virginia Tech community,” said Mulhare.

Stop the Bleed kits will also be stocked in the cabinets with the AEDs. These kits are to only be used if there is a life-threatening emergency. Virginia Tech Emergency Management provides training on how to use the kits.

For more information about the Virginia Tech AED program, email AED@vt.edu. AED and CPR training is provided through Environmental Health and Safety and through the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad.

Learn more on the AED policy in place for Virginia Tech facilities.

Contact:
Stephanie Overton

(540) 231-7892

Link to published article




Ontario Protecting Workers on Construction Sites
Province proposing changes that would improve access to defibrillators at construction sites

May 23, 2025

WHITBY — The Ontario government will soon introduce first-in-Canada changes that will, if passed, create safer workplaces for construction workers by requiring automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) at construction sites. This builds on the lifesaving changes introduced in 2022 that require naloxone kits in at-risk workplaces.

“Our government is protecting Ontario workers that are building our province by requiring AEDs on construction sites,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “Our skilled workers are at the centre of our government's plan to build highways, energy and key infrastructure. Ensuring lifesaving equipment is where it’s needed to keep them safe is one more way we’re creating safer workplaces.”

Cardiac events, including sudden cardiac arrest, are a leading cause of workplace fatalities, with construction workers being at higher risk. AEDs are electronic devices used to restart a person's heart if it has stopped beating. When used together with CPR in the first few minutes after a cardiac arrest, AEDs can dramatically improve cardiac arrest survival rates by more than 50 per cent.

The proposed amendments would require AEDs on construction projects that are expected to last three months or longer with 20 or more workers. To support businesses with the costs, a proposed program through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) would reimburse constructors for the purchase of an AED.

The proposal is part of a larger proposed package that will expand on the ground-breaking actions across six previous Working for Workers Acts since 2021, which will be unveiled in the coming days. This latest package will help protect Ontario workers and the economy for the long-term, create safer workplaces for a stronger workforce and fight worker abuse by cracking down on bad actors. This is all part of our plan to protect Ontario and help make it the best place to live, work, and raise a family.

Quick Facts
During consultations held as part of Working for Workers Five, construction industry stakeholders recommended AEDs as essential devices to have on site and highlighted the need for financial support to help small businesses with the purchase of these devices.

In April 2025, the cost to purchase one AED is on average $2,300.

This WSIB reimbursement program would be paid from the WSIB insurance fund.

Data from the Ministry shows that more than 15% of inspection reports associated with “cardiac” or “heart attack" were in the construction sector.

Quotes
"Our government continues to take decisive action to ensure the safety and well-being of Ontario’s workers. By requiring AEDs on larger construction sites, we are making life-saving tools more accessible where they’re needed most. This change reflects our commitment to creating safer workplaces and supporting our skilled trades here in Whitby and other parts of the Region of Durham, while building a stronger Ontario for everyone."

- Lorne Coe
MPP for Whitby

"Heart & Stroke welcomes the Government of Ontario’s initiative to require AEDs at more construction sites across the province. Sixty thousand cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital per year in Canada, and only one in ten survives. When used quickly, AEDs can double those chances of survival. This is an excellent step forward in making AEDs readily available and keeping our loved ones alive in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest."

- Lesley James
DrPH, Director of Health Policy & Systems, Heart & Stroke

"The safety of our members is, and always will be, our top priority. Lives can change in seconds on a construction site, and access to an AED can mean the difference between life and death. This proposed change is a critical step forward in protecting the hardworking men and women who build our province every day. We commend Minister Piccini for recognizing that worker safety must always come first."

- Jack Oliveira, Business Manager
LiUNA Local 183

"This legislation will save lives. By requiring AEDs on construction sites, Premier Ford and Minister Piccini are ensuring construction workers have access to life saving AEDs if a cardiac event occurs. Ontario will be the first jurisdiction in North America to introduce this legislation and RESCON fully supports and applauds the Minister’s leadership and dedication to health and safety."

- Andrew Pariser
Vice-President, RESCON

"Survival rates decrease by about 10% for every minute without defibrillation. On construction sites where emergency services may take time to arrive, an on-site AED can be the difference between life and death. Adding a defibrillator to a construction site isn’t just a lifesaving tool – it’s a proactive investment in workplace safety. It sends a powerful message about prioritizing health and safety from the ground up."

- Chuck Resnick
President, The Mikey Network

"Across the ICI construction sector, our employers and contractors are committed to the health and safety of our valued trade union members. We want to thank the Ford government and Minister Piccini for their leadership and support, and congratulate them for implementing this important initiative that will inevitably make our construction sites safer and save lives. We look forward to working with the WSIB as our financial partner, as we share their commitment to helping provide this important tool to our membership."

- Wayne Peterson
Executive Director, Construction Employers Coordinating Council of Ontario

"EllisDon supports the newest version of the Working for Workers Bill, highlighting the mandate for AEDs on larger construction sites. Ensuring the health and safety of workers and the potential need for AEDs provides peace of mind for workers should there ever be a necessity to use one. This critical update is a testament to our ongoing commitment to enhancing the health, safety, and wellness of every individual on our worksites."

- Steve Chaplin
Senior Vice President, Health, Safety, and Environment, EllisDon Corporation

"The OSWCA applauds Premier Ford and Minister Piccini for their leadership in protecting the health and safety of our skilled workforce, and for ensuring that workers have immediate access to lifesaving devices in case of a medical emergency on construction sites."

- Patrick McManus
Executive Director, Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association (OSWCA)

"The Provincial Building Trades Council supports the requirement to have an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) on construction projects with a duration of three months or longer, with 20 or more workers employed on the jobsite. This requirement will help save lives, ensuring that workers can be protected in emergency situations."

- Marc Arsenault
Business Manager & Secretary-Treasurer, Provincial Building & Construction Trades Council of Ontario

"We are encouraged by the government’s proposal to improve safety on construction sites. Having Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) readily available can mean the difference between life and death. This is a vital step toward protecting Ontario’s construction workers. Every second counts in a cardiac emergency, and this proposal is a meaningful step in making job sites safer across the province."

- Jon Lane
Chief Executive Officer of the AED Foundation of Ontario

Additional Resources
Guide to the Occupational Health and Safety Act
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board