The Government of Prince Edward Island announced on February 27, 2026, a major expansion of the provincial Automated External Defibrillator (AED) registry, a move that significantly improves emergency response for residents in Three Rivers, Prince Edward Island. This provincial registry ensures that bystanders and 9-1-1 dispatchers can find life-saving heart devices more quickly during a cardiac emergency.
As of January 26, 2026, there are 467 AEDs listed in the provincial GoodSAM registry, marking a 25 per cent increase since the system transitioned to the new platform in April 2025. This registry allows 9-1-1 communications officers to see the real-time location of the nearest device and guide bystanders to it during an emergency. During the third quarter of 2025, communications officers accessed the registry 41 times to assist during suspected cardiac arrests.
In the Town of Three Rivers, these life-saving tools are strategically located in high-traffic community hubs like the Cavendish Farms Wellness Centre in Montague and the Three Rivers Sportsplex in Georgetown. Increasing public access to these devices is critical, as using an AED immediately can increase a person’s chance of surviving a cardiac arrest to as high as 70 per cent.
According to James Orchard, the General Manager of Island EMS, the system helps connect life-saving equipment with those who need it in the critical minutes before paramedics arrive. Advocacy groups, including the Heart and Stroke Foundation PEI, continue to support the expansion of public access to these devices to improve safety and survival rates across the province.
