The Heart and Stroke Foundation (HSF) celebrates the success of student ambassadors at Yorkdale Central School, who trained 134 community members this November in life-saving CPR.
November is CPR Month and this year, with a generous donation from Scotiabank, the Heart and Stroke Foundation implemented a program called “Tree of Life.” This year, nine schools across Saskatchewan took part. Scotiabank funded the distribution of the Heart and Stroke CPR Anytime™ Family and Friends™ Kits to the schools as part of the Scotiabank Cardiac Safe Community Spaces Initiative, enabling students of all ages to help save lives.
The Heart and Stroke CPR Anytime™ Family and Friends™ Kit is designed to teach people of all ages how to perform CPR in approximately 20 minutes. ‘Tree of Life’ participants learned the basics of CPR using the DVD, mannequin, book and other accessories contained in the kit; they then were asked to create more lifesavers in their community by training 10 friends and family members.
To show and celebrate their success, the students at each participating school created an artistic ‘Tree of Life’ for display. For each person the student ambassadors trained in life-saving CPR, a leaf was added to the tree.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan encourages everyone in the province to take a CPR training course. The course is easy, requires very little time commitment, and prepares you to help save a life during a medical emergency.
“If you see someone suddenly collapse or if they’re unresponsive, you can save their life by following three easy steps. Number one, call 9-1-1; two, if one is available, get an AED; and three, push hard and fast in the centre of the chest,” says Cecile Comeault, Resuscitation Coordinator for HSF in Saskatchewan.
Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating. Of the 40,000 cardiac arrests that occur in Canada each year, 70 per cent happen at home. Less than five per cent of people who experience cardiac arrest outside of hospitals survive, but performing CPR can drastically improve those odds.
“CPR increases survival and recovery rates after cardiac arrest, and chance of survival is doubled when early CPR is used in combination with an AED.” says Comeault. She adds that time is of the essence, so don’t hesitate. You can’t hurt, you can only help.
To learn how to save a life, take a CPR training course available through the Heart and Stroke Foundation or purchase a Heart and Stroke CPR Anytime™ Family and Friends™ Kit and learn in the comfort of your home.
For more information about CPR courses in Saskatchewan, call the provincial office of the Heart and Stroke Foundation toll-free at 1-888-473-4636.
Or visit www.resuscitation.heartandstroke.ca.
