A lunchtime conversation by Rev. Diane Robinson on AEDs saved her life. A discussion on AEDs prompted her lunch partner to make a proposal to the church council to purchase an AED for the building. With the price tag of $2,000, it was daunting for the church, but the proposal was approved. It was late in October when the device was installed.

Unexpected ordeal

Eight week later, Robinson was at the church setting up for Christmas Eve when she started to get dizzy. Luckily, Rev. Laura Sundberg was with her when she went into cardiac arrest.

Sundberg kept herself calm and called for emergency assistance. The dispatcher asked if there was an AED in the church. She got hold of the device. The device gave a prompt to press the button to deliver a shock and she also performed CPR until the medical team arrived on the scene.

Edmonton first aid — The device gave a prompt to press the button to deliver a shock and she also performed CPR until the medical team arrived on the scene.

According to Robinson, the AED was part of the chain of survival as well as Laura. While recovering, Robinson asked to meet the dispatcher. It turns out that Laura worked with the dispatcher’s father who was a United Church minister when she was a student minister in Ontario. It is indeed a small world.

Second chance

After getting a defibrillator implanted, Robinson returned to her ministry at St. James. She would pass by the AED daily and say a little thank you.

If an AED is used within a 3-4-minute window along with chest compressions, there is an 80% chance of survival. If only compressions are done, there is only a 30% chance. If you wait for 10 minutes without any action, there is a less than 1% chance of survival.

According to Robinson, she is thankful that the AED was just nearby when she needed it. She honestly believes there are angels among us and happy to speak about AEDs since they save lives.

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