A free event at the Forks Sunday taught Winnipeggers lessons that could potentially be life-saving.
Heart and Stroke held ‘Community of Heroes’ Sunday morning, a chance to educate residents in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and on how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).
The four-hour class saw resuscitation experts and members of the Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Service provide free instruction to dozens of community members.
Lisa Bagan, who is the resuscitation manager with Heart & Stroke, says the skills taught at the second annual event could change a life.
“If you combine CPR with AED use, you actually double the chance of survival for the person that’s in cardiac arrest,” Bagan said. “So it’s really important for people for come out to events like this where they get exposure…so they’re not scared when they have to go and use it.”
According to Heart and Stroke, 40,000 cardiac arrests happen in Canada every year and 85 per cent of those take place outside of a medical facility.
“It’s happening in people’s homes, it’s happening on sports fields, it’s happening in malls, and most likely when you’re in those places you’re with someone you know and that you love so you want to be able to respond to them,” Bagan said.
The first 200 people that were trained Sunday received a free CPR practice kit to take home.
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