It was proposed, late in 2017, that all ‘Automatic External Defibrillator’ devices,
in the Province of New Brunswick, should be registered;
with an associated fee of $100 paid annually to the government.
My first reaction, on hearing that announced on an early-morning radio show, was to question:
‘How could they contort the facts so badly that I just heard what I think I heard?’
As the discussion, including listener-feedback, evolved, it became obvious that there was no distortion.
The following counter-proposal was drafted, proof-read, and submitted, to the radio station.
I thank them for reading it, in its entirety, on air.
Dear [CBC, Fredericton, InfoAM, Radio Host] Terry:
Re $100/yr for AED Registration:
A $100/year fee for AED registration seems to be not simply WRONG; it seems to be the Wrong Direction! AED Registrants – Those willing to make [their privately owned*] devices available for public use – should be PAID $100 per year; plus another $50 per public usage!
Furthermore, these cheques should be issued Automatically; with a Caution that by cashing them the registrant is attesting that:
The device is, and will be over the ensuing year, maintained and available at the registered location (baring forgivable circumstances – such as fire, theft, and relocation for active usage).
Part of ‘maintenance’ should be considered to include refreshing of the battery on the manufacturer's recommended schedule.
Furthermore, I recommend (from my humble position as simple citizen) that part of registration include at least one street-view photo (and perhaps further photos), highlighting the location of the device. These photos would be available for transmission from the ‘911 call centre’ to those in need.
Missing from the foregoing are explicit comments that registration should be voluntary, and such volunteering should be simple to rescind. Hours of availability might also be of interest (and could impact the remuneration). Yes, there are legislative details to work out – but it is a framework which probably makes more sense than a money-grubbing registration fee which seems poised to deter a citizen's measures to reduce health-care costs through prompt response!
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