Frequently Asked Questions

AEDs are small portable electronic devices that can be used to apply an electric shock to help restore functional heart rhythm in people who are experiencing cardiac arrest. AEDs use voice prompts to guide rescuers through the rescue process. They automatically analyze a person’s heart rhythm, determine whether an electric shock is needed to restart or restore normal heart rhythm, and apply that shock if needed.

Training will be provided to successful volunteer responder applicants, so no prior experience with CPR or the use of an AED is required. You should, however, be at least 21 years old and equipped with a smartphone, valid driver licence, and a vehicle. You should be capable of moderately vigorous physical activity and of performing CPR continuously for at least two minutes.

The role of an NSN Volunteer Responder is to attend the scene of suspected cardiac arrest emergencies and provide basic life support until paramedics arrive to take over. Once accepted into the program, NsN volunteers are required to . . . 

• Successfully undergo an initial training with Frontenac Paramedics and attend refresher training sessions every three months 
• Respond to location alerts 
• Assess the scene and provide basic life support: Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) use when needed 
• Remain at the incident scene until released by paramedics and assist paramedics in continuing care when asked
• Complete post-event paperwork in a detailed and timely manner
• Use and care for NSN program equipment safely and only as instructed
• Collaborate effectively with others including paramedics, patients and their families, bystanders, and allied agencies like firefighters and police officers
• Maintain the level of fitness needed to meet the demands of the role
• Promote and exemplify a positive work environment that is professional, and respectful of patient dignity and privacy
• Communicate in a tactful, reassuring, and understanding manner while at the scene of an emergency

When a call is made to 911 about a possible cardiac arrest, nearby volunteers will receive a notification on their mobile device via the GoodSAM mobile application. Volunteers will then respond while paramedics are on the way. Because NsN volunteers are closely embedded in the communities they serve, they may be first on-scene.

There’s no substitute for advanced first-aid and resuscitation training but, when cardiac arrest occurs, the probability of survival decreases by as much at 10 percent per-minute before intervention. There’s also strong evidence that patient survival rates are dramatically higher when they are treated immediately with an automated external defibrillator (AED) and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) instead of CPR alone or not at all before paramedics arrive.

Our main research question: Is the Neighbours Saving Neighbours Volunteer Responder Program a feasible and safe strategy for reducing delays in high-quality CPR and defibrillation compared with the conventional paramedic response alone for people who experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest?

Our objectives are to:

• Measure the establishment of the Neighbours Saving Neighbours (NSN) volunteer responder program
• Quantify the penetration of the NSN intervention
• Measure the reduction in time to treatment associated with NSN dispatch
• Measure the quality of chest compressions provided by NSN volunteers
• Assess the safety of the NSN program for volunteers and patients
• Determine the acceptability of the NSN program

That’s easy. Just complete the online application form. You can find it by CLICKING HERE.