{"id":8068,"date":"2026-01-26T10:59:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T15:59:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacquesdechamplain.com\/?p=8068"},"modified":"2026-01-27T01:43:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T06:43:14","slug":"jacques-de-champlain-foundation-chain-of-survival-heart-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacquesdechamplain.com\/en\/jacques-de-champlain-foundation-chain-of-survival-heart-month\/","title":{"rendered":"Jacques-de Champlain Foundation Calls on the Public to Become Part of the Chain of Survival during Heart Month"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Montreal, January 26, 2026<\/strong> \u2014 As part of Heart Month, from February 1 to 28, 2026, the Jacques-de-Champlain Foundation will launch a major public awareness campaign to highlight a critical reality: \u201cIn the face of cardiac arrest, luck is not enough. Download the AED-Qu\u00e9bec app and become part of the chain of survival.\u201d<\/a> In Canada, someone suffers a cardiac arrest every 9 minutes outside a hospital setting. Acting quickly with an automated external defibrillator (AED) triples survival rates and can make the difference between life and death for a person in cardiac arrest.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery year, too many lives are lost because help does not arrive in time or because bystanders do not know what to do. With every minute that passes after a cardiac arrest, the chances of survival decrease by 10%. Heart Month is an opportunity to remind everyone that we all have a role to play in the chain of survival,\u201d said emergency physician and Foundation President Fran\u00e7ois de Champlain, MD, MM, FRCPC. This campaign clearly underscores that survival does not depend on chance, but on rapid intervention and access to an AED. Every citizen must be part of the chain of survival\u2014year-round.<\/p>\n

To leave a lasting impression and spark collective awareness, the Foundation has also produced a powerful awareness video entitled \u201cWhen the Heart Stops, the Fight Begins.\u201d<\/a> The video immerses viewers in the urgency of a cardiac arrest situation and compellingly illustrates the importance of every second, every action, and every person involved. It clearly depicts the essential links in the prehospital chain of survival. This video was produced in collaboration with the City of C\u00f4te Saint-Luc and its Emergency Medical Services (EMS) volunteers, who provide first responder services to the community.<\/p>\n

The growing adoption of the AED-Qu\u00e9bec app, which allows users to quickly locate an AED and respond more effectively in emergencies, directly strengthens the chain of survival and increases the chances of survival for cardiac arrest victims. To further illustrate the steps involved in an emergency response, the Foundation has also created a technical factsheet about the survival chain<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Strong Demand for the Access AED Program<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since the launch of the program last spring, more than 1,800 AED requests have been submitted to the Foundation, which developed the program in collaboration with the Government of Qu\u00e9bec. These figures confirm a strong public desire to be better equipped to respond to cardiac arrest emergencies across Qu\u00e9bec.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe success of this first year has far exceeded our expectations. Organizations want to be part of the solution, to join the chain of survival, and to be able to act rather than remain bystanders in emergency situations. This level of civic mobilization is remarkable and clearly shows Qu\u00e9bec\u2019s determination to equip itself to save lives,\u201d said Eddy Afram, Program Lead for Access AED.<\/p>\n

The Access AED program<\/a> has delivered significant and measurable results. Through sustained efforts in awareness, mobilization, and collaboration with public and private stakeholders, 450 new automated external defibrillators (AEDs) have been allocated\u2014or are in the process of being allocated\u2014to community organizations, businesses, and eligible public spaces across Qu\u00e9bec, thereby strengthening safety in everyday environments.<\/p>\n

According to Dr. de Champlain, \u201cThe results of Access AED demonstrate that by combining awareness, technological tools, and civic engagement, we can truly make a difference. With this 2026 campaign, we want everyone to know that they can be part of the solution and help save a life.\u201d A second phase of the program will be launched at the end of February.<\/p>\n

Ensuring Public Access to Defibrillation Through Legislation to Meet Real Needs<\/strong><\/p>\n

With 900 defibrillators to be distributed by the end of 2026, the Access AED program represents an important step toward better equipping Qu\u00e9bec\u2019s living environments. Despite this progress and the 11,000 AEDs currently registered, Qu\u00e9bec remains far from adequate coverage. According to estimates from an expert report conducted by an external firm, at least 40,000 AEDs would be required to adequately cover the province.<\/p>\n

It is now essential for Qu\u00e9bec to adopt legislation guaranteeing structured, universal public access to defibrillators, so that every citizen\u2014regardless of location\u2014can respond quickly in an emergency.<\/p>\n

About the Jacques-de-Champlain Foundation<\/strong><\/p>\n

Founded in 2009, the Jacques-de-Champlain Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase survival rates for cardiac arrest victims by optimizing access to and use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The Foundation initiated Qu\u00e9bec\u2019s provincial AED registry, which now includes more than 11,000 registered devices, as well as the AED-Qu\u00e9bec app that maps them. To learn more: www.jacquesdechamplain.com\/en\/<\/a><\/p>\n

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