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Canadian Police Departments which Equip Vehicles with Automated External Defibrillators

Receiving defibrillation from an automated external defibrillator (AED) is a key component of the ‘chain of survival’ for victims of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Chances of survival from a SCA decrease by 7-10 % every minute that the victims does not receive defibrillation. Equipping police vehicles with AEDs and incorporating them in the emergency dispatching process when a SCA is suspected, can reduce the time until defibrillation for a victim suffering an out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest. In recognition of this reduced response time, police departments have begun equipping their vehicles with AEDs.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Several police departments in Canada equip their police vehicles with defibrillators; however, this practice remains inconsistent. Within the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) there are no federal regulations that necessitate equipping RCMP vehicles or detachments with AEDs. Despite this there are currently four departments within the RCMP which do deploy AEDs. These departments are the Prime Minister Protective Detail, the Emergency Medical Response Team (EMRT), the Division Fitness and Lifestyle and “E” Division.

British Columbia
“E” Division of the RCMP operates in the province of British Columbia and is responsible for federal, provincial and municipal policing services throughout the province, with the exception of 11 communities. Despite the absence of federal regulations requiring RCMP officers to be equipped with AEDs, the BC Provincial Policing Standards state that, as of January 30th, 2013, "the chief constable, chief officer, or commissioner must:


 * (1) Ensure that, for a rural police force that provides policing to a jurisdiction of less than 5,000 population, Conducted Energy Weapon (CEW) operators who have been assigned a CEW while on‐duty must also be equipped with an AED that is to be carried in their police vehicle.
 * (2) Ensure that, for an urban police force that provides policing to a municipality of greater than 5,000 population, all on‐road patrol supervisors must be equipped with AEDs that are to be carried in their police vehicles.
 * (3) Ensure that all officers who are authorized to use an AED receive and maintain training in accordance with Emergency and Health Services Commission consent requirements for police use of an AED."

In August of 2014 Constable Brian Mulrooney, an RCMP officer from “E” Division who was equipped with an AED, was dispatched to a suspected sudden cardiac arrest at Snug Cove, Bowen Island. Constable Mulrooney arrived within 2-3 minutes with the AED and administered multiple shocks to the victim. The victim was revived and flown to the Vancouver General hospital for further assistance.

Vancouver Police Department
As of December 31st, 2014 the Vancouver Police Department Regulations and Procedures Manual states the following:

There shall be an AED deployed in the following vehicles:


 * a. BET NCO vehicle
 * b. CSIU NCO vehicle
 * c. Patrol NCO vehicles
 * d. Dog Squad NCO vehicle
 * e. ERT NCO vehicle
 * f. Marine Squad vessels (R.G. McBeath and the zodiac)
 * g. Traffic NCO vehicle
 * h. Police wagons; and
 * i. Any other vehicle deemed appropriate.

This policy came in to effect January 22nd 2013, and indicates that many Vancouver Police Department supervisor vehicles are equipped with AEDs.

Victoria Police Department
In 2005, the Victoria Police Department distributed 5 AEDs among their patrol vehicles, making them the first police department in the Province of British Columbia to do so.

Medicine Hat Police Department
The Medicine Hat Police department has been progressively equipping their police cruisers with AEDs. The city of Medicine Hat Major Operating Expense Budget Request for 2012-2021 outlines the municipalities intention to increase their number of AEDs available to the Medicine Hat Police department, so that every police patrol vehicle is fully equipped with an AED.

Ottawa Police Service
The city of Ottawa has equipped every marked police car of the Ottawa Police Force with an AED, accounting for 141 AEDs. In addition to the AEDs distributed among marked vehicles, the Ottawa Police Service has 28 AEDs located in their facilities, including police stations, community policing centres and Ottawa Police headquarters.

Brockville Police Service
In Brockville Ontario, as of September 2013, 4 AEDs were donated to the Brockville Police to be issued to trained officers while on vehicle patrol.

Perth and Smiths Falls Police Departments
Elsewhere in Ontario, in the towns of Smiths Falls and Perth, the respective police services received 12 AEDs which were donated by the local Member of Parliament, Scott Reid. These AEDs equipped the 8 police cruisers in Smiths Falls Police Department and 4 the police cruisers of the Perth Police Department. The Perth Police Department was amalgamated in April 2013, with the Ontario Provincial Police and it remains unclear what happened to the AEDs donated by Mr. Reid.

Cobourg Police Department
The Cobourg Police Department acquired 6 AEDs to equip all Police Cruisers within their department, in the spring of 2012. By the fall of 20012, one of the AEDs was used by a police officer, to revive a man, prior to the arrival of an ambulance.

Laval Police Department
In 2012, the Laval Police Department purchased 22 AEDs which were strategically deployed among police patrol cars. By 2014, these 22 AEDs resulted in 14 lives saved. The Laval Police Department purchased an additional 48 AEDs in 2014, bringing their total number to 70, allowing for an AED to be placed in every patrol vehicle and community police station.

Saint-Jérôme Police Department
On June 18th, 2012, the Saint-Jérôme Police Department announced an agreement to train all their police officers how to use an AED, and to equip 12 of their vehicles with AEDs.