The community of Pine Meadows is proactive about the health and safety of its neighbours, and in doing so is leading the way for other adult lifestyle communities.
The community includes 195 homes near Lake Belwood, where the average age of the approximately 350 residents is 72.
In 2007, the Pine Meadows Homeowners Association (PMHA) decided to establish a series of health protocols, not the least of which included the installation of an automated external defibrillator machine, (AED).
Doctor Michael Austin, senior emergency medicine resident at The Ottawa Hospital is happy to see the community take its health seriously, especially as it is home to his mother, Linda Austin, who is past president of the PMHA.
According to Dr. Austin, in an article submitted to various medical journals, the decision to install an AED machine there was determined after consultation with Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel.
“The average response time of EMS to Pine Meadows was investigated and found to be 10 minute, 27 seconds,” said Dr. Austin. “With this distance from EMS and the knowledge that chest compressions and early defibrillation have shown to save lives residents felt early identification of cardiac arrest, notification (calling 911) and following the CAB (chest compressions, airway, breathing) was important and indeed a priority for the community.”
According to Austin’s research, an estimated 45,000 Canadians suffer cardiac arrest with the survival rate out of hospital being less than five per cent according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
Based on the findings of Dr. Christian Vaillancourt, research chair in emergency cardiac resuscitation at the University of Ottawa, there is a particular need to train more people aged 55 or older since they are most likely to make use of CPR training, given that 85% of cardiac arrests occur in the home in the presence of family.
Such information made the decision for PMHA an easy one. Making the unit central to the retirement community meant placing it in the Grand Hall, a 12,000 square foot community centre that is the hub of activity for residents.
“The first AED machine arrived in 2007,” said Linda Austin. “A lot of people were instrumental in getting this machine here.”
She explained there was extensive training provided and that has been ongoing for new people to learn to use the equipment.
“The biggest thing was for the people here to know they can use it,” Linda said. “It’s important not to be afraid of it.”
Initially, two residents volunteered to manage the AED, monthly. The community’s security team also does nightly checks.
“Each night residents, on a sign up basis, do a security check of the community centre and one of the things to be checked off is if the OK light is shining on the AE,” she said. “If there are problems, they are recorded and the managers are informed.”
She added, “We have things in place to make sure the equipment is ready to be used.”
The PMHA suggested to the various social groups who meet in the community centre that they set up a First Response System in event of a cardiac arrest, where one person is responsible to do CPR, a second person phoning 911, a third person getting the defibrillator. The goal was awareness of the various roles involved and to make people feel more comfortable responding to any emergency as well as feeling comfortable in initiating life saving CPR and the use of the AED.
CPR Anytime Kits
The community also acquired, from the Heart and Stroke Foundation, two ‘CPR Anytime Kits’ which include an inflatable mannequin and a DVD. Residents were encouraged to sign out the kit from the community centre and practice at home.
“The more people who become familiar with doing CPR and using the AED, the less they will be afraid of trying the procedure. In an emergency, being familiar and having a plan is better than no plan at all,” said Dr. Austin.
In 2009 and 2010 training courses were offered with 16 more residents trained.
Ongoing efforts include regular announcements at the weekly PMHA meetings and in the community Newsletter reminding residents about the CPR Anytime Kit and offering individual training from the mangers of the AED to anyone who wanted it.
“We want people to feel comfortable with the process and not be afraid to do CPR and use the AED if it was needed,” said Linda.
“Fortunately, we’ve never had to use the AED machine,” she confirmed.
Dr. Austin believes Pine Meadows is “leading the way in developing a change in culture instilling an attitude within the community members that says, ‘I am willing to help’ in the hopes all residents will step forward to do something in the face of an emergency.”
