Paramedic calls for more defibrillators after 2 hockey players' lives saved

PeteWightmanand his middle-aged buddiesused to joke about the defibrillatorat Carleton University'sIce House, where they play hockey every week.

"I think in the dressing room over the years, as we'd come off the rink and feel a little more out of shape than the years previous, [there would be] some comments," Wightman said.

But ever sinceone of theirgames earlier this month, those jokes have stopped.

During the last play of the game, one of Wightman's teammates collapsed on the ice. The man, in his early 50s, had gone intocardiac arrest.

One of the players on the opposing team was a doctor and immediately started cardiopulmonaryresuscitation while another player called 911.

The patient had a bit of a body twitch and then he started to regain breathing on his own.- Pete Wightman, teammate

Wightmandidn't even take his skates off as he ran for the defibrillator in the reception area of the arena.

He returnedless than a minute later and, with the assistance of the doctor, set the machineup and placed the pads on his teammate's chest.

When the defibrillator prompted him,Wightmanpressed the heart-shaped button. The effect was dramatic and immediate.

"The patient had a bit of a body twitch and then he started to regain breathing on his own. He regained a pulse and a heart rate,"Wightmansaid.

By the time paramedicsloadedhim into the ambulance he was talkingeven joking.

Another cardiac arrest Saturday

Adefibrillatorisan apparatus that's used torestore a normal heartbeat by applying an of an electric current to the chest wall or heart.

The city started installing defibrillators in arenas and public buildings in 2001. There are now about 1,000 of the devices in arenas, libraries, malls and private businesses and according to the Ottawa Paramedic Service, those defibrillators have saved 120 lives, including the two this month.

This past weekend, anotherhockey player went into cardiac arrest during a gameat the University of Ottawa. Once again a defibrillator located in the lobby of the complexsaved his life. The man was taken to hospital in critical condition.

The machines cost about $1,500 each, and a new Toronto-focused study recommends installing themin 24-hour coffee shops and at ATM kiosks.

Ottawa paramedic ChrisStroudwould have no problem with defibrillators being easier to access.

"I'd like to see them more and morethe more of these you have, the closer they are to where people are, the better,"Stroudsaid.