Empowering Youth with Life-Saving Skills: Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton Area Takes a Major Step Towards Saving Lives

Strategic Insights -

Thirteen years of partnership between Hydro One and the Advanced Coronary Treatment (ACT) Foundation have led to the training of over 25,000 students in CPR and AED (automated external defibrillator) techniques in the Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton area. This life-saving training has been made possible through the foundation's High School CPR and AED programs, which aim to equip students with the skills to respond in emergency situations. According to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, every nine minutes, someone in Canada experiences a cardiac arrest, and if they're lucky, they're already at a hospital. However, nearly 90% of cardiac arrests occur in the community, with nearly half of those affected being under the age of 65.

Key Takeaways:

  • The ACT Foundation has established CPR and AED training, as well as overdose training, in Canadian high schools, with a goal to deliver overdose training to nearly 80% of provincial high schools by 2025.
  • Hydro One has financially assisted the ACT Foundation since 2000, enabling over three million students across Ontario to be trained through the High School CPR and AED programs.
  • In 2022, Hydro One joined Health Canada, Amgen Canada, and AstraZeneca Canada in supporting ACT's goal to deliver overdose training to nearly 80% of provincial high schools by the end of 2025.
  • Kawartha Lakes Mayor Doug Elmslie has expressed appreciation for the partnership between ACT, Hydro One, and the students, recognizing the importance of life-saving training in emergency situations.
  • The training provided to students will empower them with the knowledge and skills to respond in emergency situations, making a significant difference in outcomes.
  • Cardiac arrest means the heart has stopped beating, and immediate CPR keeps the blood pumping to keep the brain and other vital organs alive.
  • An AED will shock the heart to help it restart, increasing the chances of survival.

Statistics:

  • Every nine minutes, someone in Canada experiences a cardiac arrest.
  • 90% of cardiac arrests occur in the community, with nearly half of those affected being under the age of 65.
  • Over three million students across Ontario have been trained through ACT's High School CPR and AED programs since 2000.
  • Hydro One has partnered with the ACT Foundation to train roughly 1,700 students a year.
  • Nearly 80% of provincial high schools aim to be equipped with overdose training by 2025, supported by Health Canada, Amgen Canada, AstraZeneca Canada, and Hydro One.

Sources:

  • Heart & Stroke Foundation
  • Kawartha Lakes This Week
  • Advanced Coronary Treatment (ACT) Foundation
  • Hydro One