Last weekend, Bowen Islander Bawn Campbell was visiting Los Angeles for a conference and birthday party. One of the events he attended was held at the Dolby Theatre, the site of the Oscars.
“All of a sudden there was commotion at up near the stage and someone called for a doctor. Someone had dropped dead right there,” says Campbell. “A first aid person came in and started CPR. I thought the guy was dead for sure, because it was taking so long – and then someone came in with an AED (Automatic External Defibrilator) and said, everyone stand back! I wasn’t close enough to see anything, but I found out later that he lived. It really drove home the importance of these devices.”
Campbell and other members of Bowen Rotary have been working since the beginning of 2016 to get more AEDs in accessible and necessary locations on Bowen Island. Council agreed to a proposal whereby the municipality would cover the $118 required every two years to update the batteries for 15 AEDs around the island (four which had been purchased by the municipality, the rest paid for in part by Bowen Rotary and in part by neighbourhood fundraising).
This week, Campbell came to council and asked for support to install another 10 AEDs. Members of council agreed to continue supporting the program.
“Rotary pays for 1/3 of the cost of these devices, people in the various neighbourhoods cover the other two-thirds of the cost, which totals about $2,200. For some of the AEDs, people have given enough money to cover the total cost. With that, we think we have enough to bring 10 more to various island locations,” says Campbell. “We build the little bird houses where they are kept, and also host tea parties so that people know where they’re located and how to use them.”
Campbell says that one of the first AEDs to be installed was in his neighbourhood, on Captain’s Way.
“I had recently seen the ambulance take 45 minutes to come and get one of my neighbours,” he says. “We hosted this Tea Party and 30 people attended. One of those people did not actually live near me, but was inspired to start raising funds for her neighbourhood.”
Not only do people at these parties learn how to use an AED, the group also creates a “phone tree.” If your name is on the tree, says Campbell, you’ve agreed to call 911 and go get the AED if you are called.”
“If you think about it, when someone collapses there are a few steps to the process, more than one person is required to save a life in this situation,” says Campbell.
So far, none of the AEDs purchased through Rotary have been used, but the RCMP did use one of theirs and saved a life down on the Government Dock last summer.
On December 21, Rotary will be hosting a Tea Party for the whole community at BICS.
“If you know where one is, and if you know how to use it, you’re going to follow through when faced with a life and death situation,” says Campbell. Asked if he would have felt confident using one last weekend at the Dolby Theatre, he replies, “absolutely.”
To find out where to find AEDs are located on Bowen Island, go here.
