Ottawa, ON October 31, 2008 — November is CPR month and St. John Ambulance is challenging Canadians to get CPR-trained to be ready to respond to emergencies.

“Not only is it important we have training in our workplaces but also in our homes,” says Les Johnson, St. John Ambulance, training director. More than 30,000 cases of cardiac arrest occur each year, most within the home. This means that CPR will have to be administered by a family member until medical help arrives. If no one is CPR-trained then the likelihood of survival greatly diminishes.

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (September 2008 edition), studies show an overall average survival rate from heart attack or cardiac arrest of just eight per cent. Administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to someone within the first moments of cardiac arrest will greatly increase the likelihood of survival. “It’s clear that the sooner CPR is started, the greater the chance for survival,” explains Mr. Johnson. Not only does this lifesaving technique supply much needed oxygen to the brain, it also helps keep the heart in a state that makes defibrillation more effective.

Save a life by getting CPR-trained now! Training is easy, available, and affordable and can even be done in your home. You will be ready to help should the need arise. For St. John Ambulance training courses in your area, please visit www.sja.ca.

Since 1883, St. John Ambulance has been offering life saving skills to Canadians each year and is considered the premier supplier of first aid and CPR training in Canada. Proceeds from these programs support our charitable community services proudly delivered by St. John Ambulance volunteers.

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For more information contact:

Les Johnson, Director of Training
St. John Ambulance Canada
                               1-888-8...                 ext. 261
Les.Johnson@nhq.sja.ca