The Comox Firefighters Association has donated another automated external defibrillator (AED) to support public safety in the Comox Valley.

The latest recipient is the Courtenay Legion.

Comox Fire Chief Gord Schreiner says it's encouraging to see more public access AEDs becoming available throughout the community.

To date, he says they’ve helped place over 60 AEDs in public spaces over the past decade, representing more than $85,000 in funding, entirely from non-tax sources.

Public-access AEDs cost $2,000 each. In addition to donating AEDs, the Comox Firefighters Association also offers CPR and AED training to members of the community.

The association receives numerous requests annually and evaluates each one to determine where they can have the most impact.

Their goal is to add three to four new AEDs across the region each year.

Survival rates for cardiac arrest are typically under 10 percent, but studies show that when CPR and AEDs are administered within five minutes, survival rates can jump to 30–50 percent.

To learn more, visit Town of Comox.