November is CPR Month and the Canadian Red Cross challenges everyone to get the training they need to help save a life. Over 50,000 Canadians die of coronary disease every year, and seventy per cent of cardiac arrests happen at home. Effective bystander CPR, when used in conjunction with an AED and administered immediately following cardiac arrest, can double a person's chance of survival.
"Knowing what to do when you see someone suffering from cardiac arrest can mean the difference between life and death for someone you love," says Barry Salmond, First Aid Program Advisor for the Canadian Red Cross. "Red Cross CPR training teaches people how to recognize and respond to cardiovascular emergencies."
Red Cross CPR courses also include training on the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs): how to assess a person in cardiac arrest, determine whether defibrillation (a shock to the heart to restore normal beating) should be performed, and use an AED unit to deliver a shock if required. The Red Cross is the only national training agency to include AED training as a mandatory component in all our programs.
For more information on Red Cross CPR training or to find a course in your area, visit www.redcross.ca/firstaid.
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