Essex-Windsor EMS offers free AED tutorials for construction companies

Essex-Windsor EMS is offering free tutorial and information sessions to help area construction companies prepare for a new provincial law mandating life-saving Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) at large construction sites.

Fortis Construction last week became the first construction company in the region to take EWEMS up on the offer. Twenty-four Fortis employees participated – many in person, some virtually from across the province.

Fortis has already purchased licensed AEDs for its construction sites.

This past July, the government of Premier Doug Ford amended Ontario Regulation 157/25 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act to mandate that where 20 or more workers are regularly employed at a construction site, and when the job is expected to last three months or longer, a Canadian-licensed, fully functional AED and supporting items “must be installed and maintained at the project.”

This regulation comes into force on January 1, 2026 – now just six weeks away – and applies to any qualifying project already underway in the new year.

“We don’t want to just teach construction companies and workers how to use an AED, and how to do CPR,” said Dave Thibodeau of Essex-Windsor EMS. “We want to show them how to properly do everything regarding AED use and storage. We’re here to help them understand and meet the obligations of the new legislation.

“It’s important they purchase a quality AED. And we know which are the most reliable devices available in the Canadian market. We always advise against just buying the cheapest AED they can find online. The point is to have a reliable device, on hand, and nearby too, whenever you might be faced with a life-endangering emergency.”

Topics covered in EWEMS’ session with Fortis employees included how to recognize sudden cardiac arrest, contacting 911, retrieving the AED, applying the AED and delivering shocks to a victim, as well as proper storage and signage, plus assistance with site surveys for the strategic placement of the devices on construction sites.

Essex-Windsor EMS wants to assist those in the construction industry who might have any questions or concerns about the new law, to help fill any gaps in their efforts to comply with the coming legislation.

“We’re here to help!” Thibodeau said.

The Ontario WSIB reports that 15 per cent of construction workers’ deaths are a result of sudden cardiac arrest. EWEMS wants to assist in lowering that grim statistic.

An AED is a portable electronic device that can restart the heart of a person – of any age – who experiences cardiac arrest. The device monitors a patient’s heartbeat and, if necessary, can deliver one or more heart-resuscitating electric shocks. Even those without medical training can follow an AED’s simple, situation-specific instructions – displayed visually on a digital screen as well as spoken aloud via a built-in speaker – to try to save a life.

Minutes matter when someone suffers cardiac arrest, and interventions by co-workers, passersby, family or friends with quick access to an AED can mean the difference between life and death. Indeed, applying a defibrillator to someone’s chest in the first 60 seconds of cardiac arrest increases that person’s chances of surviving by 90%. With every minute that passes, chances of survival decrease by 10%.

To inquire further, or to book EWEMS for a free information and tutorial session for any construction company that operates in the City of Windsor or County of Essex, email the service at DEFIB@countyofessex.ca or call 519-791-0452.