In April of last year, a routine Gryphon men's volleyball practice turned into a life-threatening emergency when a member of the team experienced a sudden cardiac arrest. Thanks to the immediate response from the Department of Athletics staff and coaches, and their use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), a life was saved. This incident highlights the importance of preparedness, training, and access to life-saving equipment.
 
To celebrate this heroic act and honour the individuals who stepped up in such a pivotal moment, we hosted a special recognition on Saturday, January 18th, at 6:00 PM. The event took place before the Gryphon men's volleyball game, featuring a presentation of gratitude and appreciation to the department staff who made a difference that day.
 
This recognition serves as a powerful reminder of the critical role of trained staff with life-saving skills like CPR and the importance and accessibility of AEDs within our athletic facilities can play.
 
  
Heroic Impact Award: Al Gundrum, Rebecca Walker, Austin Murphy, Zayn Abbas, Hannah Johnston
 
Approximately 60,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests are occurring every year in Canada (Heart & Stroke Canada). That is about 1-every-9 minutes. The best chance for survival is immediate implementation of CPR and use of an AED. Using CPR in conjunction with early access to an AED can double the chance of surviving a sudden cardiac arrest.
 
Beth Fisher, Supervisor of Aquatics and Health and Safety lead in the Department of Athletics commented on the ease of use of AED's and the importance of having units available in a facility.
 
"Public access defibrillators are critical to increasing the survival of a sudden cardiac arrest. The visibility of our AEDs in our facility allowed our staff to respond swiftly and put their training into practice to make every effort to save a fellow student. Their quick action, collaboration and focus on the student-athlete in need made all the difference in this event."