Tips for Staying Safe on the Road During Winter

Sky MattixBlog, Safety

With the extreme weather conditions that winter can bring, such as rain, sleet, snow and ice, vehicle safety has received a lot of recent attention in the news. The importance of vehicle distress kits in the case of an emergency has also been highlighted. Here are some things to watch out for on the road and tips to remain safe while winter is still in full effect: Black Ice Black ice is a transparent coating of ice, found on the road or other paved surface, and drivers typically can’t see it, until you’re right on top of it. If there …

Welcome to Heart Month 2015!

Sky MattixBlog, News

Every 7 minutes in Canada, someone dies from heart disease or stroke. In fact, it is expected that incidences of heart disease and stroke will increase in the upcoming generations due to poor diets (including high sodium intake), increased stress and sedentary work environments. Heart Disease Facts Nine in 10 Canadians (90%) have at least one risk factor for heart disease or stroke (smoking, alcohol, physical inactivity, obesity, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes) The leading cause of hospitalization in Canada continues to be heart disease and stroke, accounting for 16.9 % of total hospitalizations (19.8% of all hospitalizations …

What You Should Know About Snow Shoveling and Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Sky MattixBlog, Health

There are an unsettling number of people who are rushed to the hospital with chest pain after shovelling their driveways, many of them have had a heart attack. Although a heart attack IS an excellent excuse to get out of clearing your driveway of snow…that is not why people are getting them! The bottom line comes down to risk of cardiovascular disease (such as high blood pressure or cholesterol), and not regularly exercising. If it’s been a while since you’ve exercised, it is best that when you do start back up, to take it slow. If someone who has not …

The SHOCKING Truth Behind AEDs

Sky MattixBlog, First Aid

You’ve seen them around. In the metal wall containers in subway stations, in malls and community centres…AEDs are everywhere. Why? Because they work. When your heart needs it, along with effective CPR, an AED can save your life by kickstarting your heart back to normal. To understand how, you have to know a bit about how your heart works. Your Heart is a Muscle It’s about the size of your fist and is in the upper left side of your chest (just off the centre). And your heart has an incredibly important function. It pumps blood to all areas of …

Great Canadian Tips for Staying Safe in the Winter

Sky MattixBlog, First Aid

Winter in Canada is a special season. We pride ourselves on our snowy, long and ‘Canadian’ winter season. There are some reasons to be bitter (excuse the pun), but others reasons to rejoice. Skiing, snowboarding, ice skating and tobogganing are some of the most fun you can have in a winter wonderland. But without protection from the cold temperatures in the form of a winter coat, hat, gloves and boots, our bodies would not function properly, and could be permanently damaged after extended exposure to the elements. Here we discuss some common, and potentially life threatening cold related injuries. HYPOTHERMIA …