KAWARTHA LAKES-November is Resuscitation month and if there was ever a reason to learn CPR or refresh your AED skills, this is it.
On November 6th a citizen in Kawartha Lakes suffered a sudden cardiac arrest and collapsed in the driveway. “Two good Samaritans quickly sprang into action calling 911 and performing Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation”(CPR) explained Paramedic Chief Keith Kirkpatrick. “Citizen involvement with CPR and learning how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) saves lives – thanks to the action of those two individuals the person now has a fighting chance at survival.”
Officials say bystander CPR is a critical link in the chain of survival. Heart and Stroke research tells us that citizen CPR doubles a victim’s chance of surviving and in cases where citizens also have and use an AED, the chance of survival can be greater than 75%.
“As a Paramedic I have firsthand experience that supports the Heart and Stroke research,” said Chief Kirkpatrick. “In 2016 all of our Paramedic Services cardiac arrest survivors either had citizen CPR or immediate professional first responder intervention.”
Organizations such as the Heart and Stroke Foundation, St John Ambulance, Red Cross and other private companies teach these lifesaving skills and Ontario has a Good Samaritan Act in place to protect people who step up and help someone in need.
Everyone can refresh their CPR and AED skills by going to the Kawartha Lakes website at www.kawarthalakes.ca/CPR.
