Members of Essex Town Council joined representatives from Essex-Windsor EMS today to celebrate the installation of a new life-saving Automated External Defibrillator (AED) at the Colchester Harbour.

This new device, available 24/7, year-round for public use, has been installed thanks to a generous $30,000 grant from Enbridge Gas, which is supporting the placement of outdoor AED units across all local municipalities in Windsor-Essex and Pelee Island.

Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, at any time. Quick access to an AED dramatically improves survival rates:

• Using an AED within the first 60 seconds of cardiac arrest increases survival chances by up to 90%.
• Every minute of delay reduces the chance of survival by 10%.

While there are more than 1,300 registered AEDs across Windsor-Essex and Pelee, nearly 90% are currently located indoors and often only available during business hours. Outdoor AEDs help fill this gap by ensuring access when it’s needed most.

Each AED is housed in a durable, heated, illuminated, all-weather cabinet with a clear cover and an alarm system. The highly visible design ensures the device can be quickly located and accessed in emergencies.