No one likes to ponder the thought of having to save a life on the ball field, but it’s reassuring to know life-saving equipment is available if you ever do need it.
An AED (defibrillator) is now on site at Hal Betts Sportsplex in Moncton.
Moncton Ladies Slo-Pitch League Vice-President Eric Lanctin was inspired and helped make this a reality, “June 1, 2024, two of the ladies who play slo-pitch, Carole and Isabelle, saved a life during a hockey tournament in Riverview.”
After hearing about their heroic efforts, Lanctin set a goal to find out how to obtain an AED and make it accessible during the games.
“Between Moncton Ladies Slo-Pitch and the Hub City Slo-Pitch League, there are four nights a week, with over 230 players on the field,” Lanctin adds.
After doing some research, Lanctin discovered that the Heart and Stroke Foundation would subsidize 75 per cent of the cost, so they wrote a letter and their wish was granted.
The City of Moncton has partnered with the League and agreed to help pay the remaining cost for the defibrillator. It will use the AED in a hockey rink during the winter months.
“It’s one of those tools that you get that you hope you will never, ever have to use. It’s accessible, the Head Umpire has access to it,” Lanctin adds.
The AED is being securely stored in a building at the Sportsplex, next to B-5, until mid-October. It will also be accessible during tournaments,
“We feel better knowing that we are well-equipped to assist someone in need until at least the paramedics arrive on site.”
Lanctin was also shocked to find out the number of participants in the Ladies Slo-pitch league who are prepared in the case of an emergency. He says that while doing research to find out more about an AED, they asked how many of the players and coaches had valid and active first aid training. The result was over 50 per cent.
“You actually don’t need to have first aid training to run it. The machine will do the work once you put those pads on and turn it on. It will tell you what to do,” Lanctin says.
He adds, slo-pitch players come at all ages and in all shapes and sizes, but an emergency can happen to anyone, despite age or health condition, and it’s important to be prepared.
“We all hear the stories of a young 18-year-old hockey player who ran into trouble, or a young child. I think they (defibrillators) are getting more and more popular across the province.
It’s believed Hal Betts Sportsplex may be the first, or one of the first, amateur ball fields in the province to be equipped with an AED.
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