Workplace preparedness: Be prepared, save a life

Heart disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Halton. Four out of five cardiac arrests occur in public places or at home. If cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is performed right away, the odds of surviving a cardiac arrest are almost four times greater. On Monday, April 11, 2011, the Halton Region Health Department will host a free workplace health networking meeting for representatives of local businesses. The workshop will offer participants a chance to learn how being prepared to respond to cardiovascular emergencies can help save lives in the workplace, at home and in the community.

The meeting will be of interest to anyone who is responsible for the health and well-being of their employees. The workshop takes place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Halton Regional Centre at 1151 Bronte Road in Oakville (view map), with registration and a continental breakfast scheduled prior to the meeting, at 8:30 a.m.

“I encourage workplaces to take advantage of this opportunity to learn how to work together for the best possible outcomes from cardiovascular emergencies,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “Employees are an organization’s most valuable asset. When an employee’s breathing or heart stops, seconds count. Employers can help protect staff from foreseeable events such as heart attacks and strokes. Members of Halton Regional Council received cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillation training in February – being prepared is everyone’s responsibility.”

Keynote speaker Blake Hurst, CPR/PAD Coordinator, is the Public Education Program Coordinator for Halton Region EMS. The workshop will attempt to demystify a complex and sometimes frightening topic. Halton Region’s goal is to have as many employees as possible in Halton trained in CPR should a co-worker show signs of a stroke or heart attack.

Some of Halton Region’s current CPR projects/initiatives revolve around strengthening each link in the “Chain of Survival,” with a strong focus on raising awareness of the warning signs of heart attack, stroke and heart rhythm disorders. The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada developed the “Chain of Survival,” as a tool for improving cardiac health and improving cardiac emergency outcomes in Canadian communities. The chain’s seven links include healthy choices, early recognition, early access, early CPR, early defibrillation, early advanced care and early rehabilitation.

According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, when CPR is combined with an automated external defibrillator (AED), survival rates go up by up to 75 per cent. “Without CPR and defibrillation, fewer than five per cent of people who have a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital survive,” explains Dr. Bob Nosal, Medical Officer of Health for Halton Region. “By being prepared, recognizing symptoms and understanding the roles they can play, every employee can make a difference and save a life.”

Workshop attendees will participate in hands-on medical emergency response planning activities for workplaces such as:

• Writing an emergency script.
• Registering an organization with central dispatch (911).
• Seeing a demonstration of a public access defibrillator.
• Learning the facts about cardiac arrest and cardiovascular emergencies in our community.
• Understanding what individuals can do to improve survival rates and improve outcomes for emergencies.
• Recognizing signs and symptoms.
• Understanding the “chain of survival” and the importance of team work.

Registration deadline is April 1. For more information, to register for this session, or to be added to the mailing list for future meetings, please contact Halton Region by dialing 311, 905-825-6000, toll free 1-866-4HALTON (1-866-442-5866), or TTY 905-827-9833 or visit our website at www.halton.ca/workplacehealth.

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