Stride Credit Union is taking steps to ensure its members, and the public has access to a life-saving device.

Branches in Portage la Prairie, Oakville, MacGregor, Austin, Gladstone, and Plumas are getting equipped with automated external defibrillators (AED) located in the locations vestibule.

Portage Mayor Irvine Ferris insists this will benefit the general public throughout the city.

"When a person has a cardiac arrest incident, we know that without the early intervention of an AED and CPR the survival rate is about 2.5%," says Ferris. "With early intervention, it's about 80%."

Ferris adds Stride Credit Union is a great corporate citizen, working to improve the lives of everyone in Portage.

Phil Carpenter is the Portage Fire Chief and Director of Public Safety for the City he reveals Portage now has over 20 AED machines throughout the community. He shares, this is great for those first responders in the ambulances.

"Time is a huge factor," says Carpenter. "That is why we get AED's in buildings. It's great that it's here," says Carpenter.

Ryan Hildebrandt is the Vice President of Member Experience and Strategy for Stride Credit Union, and he explains the health of the communities in which Stride serves is always top of mind.

"As much as we are all about the financial health of our members, we are also invested in their physical health as well," says Hildebrandt.

Signs will be put up on the exterior of each location soon to indicate that an AED is inside.