Technology has reduced the size and complexity of heart defibrillators so greatly that plans are afoot to place the machines throughout the Island.

Under the St. John's Ambulance Brigade's coordination, local companies are being approached along with Government to put the user friendly Automated External Defribrillators at strategic places.

The intent is to increase a persons chances of surviving a cardiac arrest.

"For every one minute without defibrillation there is a ten percent decrease in cardiac arrest survival,'' Brigade executive director Susan Parsons said.

Mrs. Parsons and Brigade Council Chairman Colin Curtis this week announced the programme to blanket the Island with the machines.

"We're even looking to get companies to include them in their on-site first aid kits,'' she added.

Having the easy to use machines at strategic places would mean good Samaritans could use them to save a life or make a person who will survive a heart attack have a better quality of life before an ambulance can reach them.

AED machines have become commonplace in Britain, Canada, and the US, with the US Government mandating that all of its offices have one available for emergencies.

Airlines are also jumping on the bandwagon with many US carriers and Air Canada putting machines on their aircraft.

The machines cost around $4,000 each and are about the size of a laptop computer.

Simple instructions are on the machines. Tests have shown that ten-year-olds can operate them.

Even untrained people can use the machines as the machines test a suffering person for cardiac arrest.

Mr. Curtis explained: "One of the key things is that for this Island, we can establish places with stationary units, like the Airport, St. George's, Somerset, and places in Hamilton to reduce the time a person will get a life saving shock.

"The job of the St. John's Ambulance Brigade,'' he continued. "would be to do the minimal training necessary and to let everyone know in a reasonable geographical area that they are in fact there.

"You're dealing with very precious moments and if there is a machine in the area and you can get that shock administered, the chance of survival and even more importantly, with a survivable brain, then the effort is good.'' Mr. Curtis added: "The Order of St. John (of which the Brigade is a part) has a worldwide campaign to place the AEDs throughout its sphere of influence.

"That further extends the service we do for Bermuda and Bermudians,'' he said. "To the extent that it makes sense and is feasible, we are going to blanket the Island.'' Studies show that relatively close access to the machines can increase people's chances of survival to more than 80 percent.