More than 200 community groups, aboriginal communities, search-and-rescue organizations, ski patrols, old-timer hockey leagues, schools and non-profit groups will receive surplus automatic external defibrillators that were used during the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and Paralympics. The gifts from the Vancouver Organizing Committee and Medtronic, the manufacturer, are in addition to defibrillators they left in every competition and non-competition venue in Vancouver, Whistler and Richmond.

Shelley Parker, a spokeswoman for Medtronic, said nearly 350 groups across Canada applied for the machines, which can be used by bystanders when someone goes into cardiac arrest.

More than 200 will be refurbished and distributed to the groups. A number of more advanced units that include monitoring devices and require a trained physician, will also be delivered to sports development programs, university cardiac rehabilitation facilities and teaching institutions.

The AEDs, as they are called, are in addition to seven that a Burnaby-based memorial society is installing in Vancouver city rinks.

Dr. Mike Wilkinson, Vanoc's chief medical officer, said Medtronic agreed to the $2 million donation as part of its involvement as a "Friend of the Games." The company loaned Vanoc nearly 300 machines, including more sophisticated models that were used in hospital or polyclinic settings. He said a number of the machines were used during the Games but he could not provide details.

Parker said the AEDs that are meant to be located in high-visibility public locations like arenas, community centres, schools and elsewhere are meant for use by untrained people who witness someone going into cardiac arrest. All of the machines are equipped with a safety so that they will only give an electrical shock if they recognize a person's heart is suffering two abnormal rhythms, either ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation.

"The machines cannot shock inappropriately," she said. "How do you know (when to use one)? Basically, anybody who looks dead or is trying to die.

Parker said the use of an AED is critical in the moments after a cardiac arrest. "The statistics are simple. For every minute you wait, the person's ability to survive drops by 10 per cent."