January 4, 2008 Ottawa – St. John Ambulance volunteers and staff are rolling out red carpets, in communities across Canada, to celebrate 125 years of providing top quality first aid training to Canadians. To mark this extraordinary milestone, St. John Ambulance is recognizing special volunteers; hosting special events; publishing a commemorative book “The Maple Leaf and the White Cross – A History of St. John Ambulance and the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in Canada”; and, has recently published a national first aid product catalogue containing health and safety products for families, sport enthusiasts and the workplace.

“We know that emergencies can happen anywhere and anytime,” says John Mah, Chancellor, St. John Ambulance. “Therefore we are challenging Canadians to make first aid training their number one New Year’s resolution so that they are trained and ready to help save a life.”

St. John Ambulance has been ensuring the health, safety and quality of life for Canadians since 1883. Each year more than 6,000 St. John Ambulance first aid instructors train over half a million Canadians. First aid courses include Standard First Aid and Emergency First Aid, and incorporate training in Emergency Scene Management, Shock, Choking, CPR, Severe Bleeding  and much more. Please visit www.sja.ca for a complete listing of first aid courses and products, along with information about St. John Ambulance.

125 years in a minute
Since our beginnings, we have continued to evolve to meet the needs of Canadians through a broad range of health programs and community services. In 1883, Quebec City was the first Canadian branch to teach first aid courses; shortly thereafter, courses were offered in Kingston, Ontario. In the next 10 years, St. John Ambulance grew to be a truly national health and safety organization. By 1892, it had 12 branches teaching first aid and offering a proud tradition of volunteer work from coast-to-coast. At the very core of the 125 year success of St. John Ambulance is the unwavering commitment of exceptional volunteers. Since 1912 in Canada, thousands of volunteers have received the Order of St. John - one of the five National Orders of Canada.

Quick Facts

• Established in 1883 in Canada
• Member of one of the world’s oldest humanitarian organizations – the Order of St. John
• Serving communities across Canada – e.g.  medical first response services, therapy dog services, youth services program, emergency preparedness program
• 25,000 volunteers provide two million volunteer hours annually
• 6,000 certified instructors
• Provides first aid and CPR training programs that contain the latest protocols and meet provincial and federal workplace regulations
• Trains more than 550,000 Canadians in first aid and CPR each year
• Markets a complete range of high quality first aid kits and supplies for use at work, home and play
• Supports humanitarian relief efforts across Canada and around the world