Why Everyone Should Know How to Operate a Defibrillator

tempfirstaidBlog, First Aid

Why Everyone Should Know How to Operate a Defibrillator Unfortunately, Sudden Cardiac Arrest continues to be a leading killer worldwide. Regardless of age, health or location SCA continues to strike unexpectedly, thus it is important to be prepared. The First Aid Canada Team highly recommends defibrillators in community centres and public settings, as well as in the home. For every minute someone has to wait before defibrillation after suffering SCA, their chance of survival decreases by 10% making an AED onsite crucial for saving lives.  If you are unfamiliar with how an Automated External Defibrillator works, check out our blog: …

Low Rise Buildings Increase Your Chance of Survival

tempfirstaidBlog, Safety

Low Rises Increase Your Chance of Survival Although a view from the top can be quite beautiful there are also risks that come along with working or living in high-rise buildings. One of these risk factors is access to defibrillators as the higher you are the lower your chances of survival. A recent study published in the Canadian Medical Journal Association proves this with Canadian facts: For those who call 911 from a high-rise, the odds of survival from cardiac arrest depend on what floor the patient lives. That’s the main conclusion of an intriguing study by a paramedic and doctors with Rescu, …

What You Should Know About Snow Shoveling and Sudden Cardiac Arrest

tempfirstaidBlog, 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

tempfirstaidBlog, 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 …