Understanding The Difference: Heart Attacks vs. Cardiac Arrest

Sky MattixBlog, Health

Giving Back: In October 2014 the First Aid Canada Team gave back in the form of first aid supplies to underprivileged communities in Honduras through the organization The Friends of Honduran Children. The FOHC is a non-profit organization based in Peterborough, Ontario. The organization is committed to the delivery of sustainable programs to the impoverished children and families in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Among the several services intended to break the cycle of inequality and poverty in this population, medical brigades is one way to contribute. This past October (2014), a health promotion brigade consisting of an interdisciplinary team including nursing students from Trent University, travelled to Honduras …

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 …

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 …