Would you know what to do or how to help a person experiencing cardiac arrest?
October 16th saw the celebration of the first-ever World Restart a Heart Day, a global initiative aiming to increase awareness about the importance of bystander CPR and to increase the number of people who could jump in in case of an emergency.
In Sudbury, the day was marked by paramedics visiting several schools to teach lifesaving techniques.
Grade seven students Alexie Belanger and Shaun-Emily Cormier participated in some heart pumping learning.
“Ifeel it's really important to know this, just in case there was an emergency. It's a really good skill to have.” said Belanger.
“I would feel bad if I didn't step up because I know I am capable to help someone, and if I didn't, I would feel really bad.” said Cormier.
Grade six, seven and eight students at École Ste-Thérèse received hands on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training and how to spot signs that someone is in distress from a heart attack.
“We need people to start CPR immediately. We do not want you to wait for the professionals to arrive. Now the grade six, seven, and eights are able to do this and kids even younger than this. It better to have that and it increases survival rates drastically.” said Shawn-Eric Poulin, a paramedic services commander.
Students also learned how to use a defibrillator, which is a life saving device that is becoming more common in many public and private buildings.
“It's been incredible to see their eyes open up in amazement to realize that they can do this. They are practising on mannequins. (And for them to say) I may be in grade six, seven, or eight, but I can do this.” said Chantal lafleur, principal of École Ste-Thérèse.
“Yeah, I do feel like I could save somebody's life.” said Belanger.
“If I do help someone, I know that I can, I am capable.” said Cormier.
Paramedics say the goal is educate people so they can take steps to save a life and to improve the rates of bystander interventions to restart a heart.
