The Chain of Survival

The chain of survival refers to a series of actions that, properly executed, reduce the mortality associated with sudden cardiac arrest. The four interdependent links in the chain of survival are early access, early CPR, early defibrillation, and early advanced cardiac life support.

Ontario Health and Safety – Bylaw 1101

By law, all employers in the province of Ontario who are covered by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act must have accessible first aid equipment available to workers at all times, adequate safety training for their employees, as well as provide a safe working environment.

The different requirements that are necessary for a workplace, in regards to the First Aid Kits, training and facilities will always vary depending on how many employees are employed at the company, and on a shift during one time.

According to WSIB, a workplace that has 5 or less workers on the floor at one time required at least one of those workers to have a valid Emergency First Aid certificate. This training course consists of 6.5 hours of training, with an assessment at the end.

A company that has 6 or more workers on the floor during a shift is required to have a worker with a valid Standard First Aid certificate. This training course consists of 13 hours of training, along with an assessment at the end of the course.

Having multiple employees trained in first aid is recommended for all companies. This is to ensure compliance when any worker who is trained in first aid is away from work due to illness or vacation.

In regards to companies who provided workers with vehicles to be used on the job, they should ensure that every vehicle is equipped with a regulated First Aid Kit. Employees should be educated about the supplies that can be found in the kit, as well as what to do in case of an emergency.

Every workplace must come with an equipped first aid station that includes:

  • A First Aid Kit that contains all items that are required by regulation for that specific workplace 
  • Up-to-date First Aid Certificates for all trained employees 
  • The WSIB “In Case of Injury” Poster
  • An Inspection Sheet used to record all First Aid Kit Inspections
  • A dedicated First Aid room (only if workplace exceeds 200 employees)

February is Heart Month!

February is Heart Month, a time to bring attention to the importance of cardiovascular health, and what we can to reduce our risk of cardiovascular disease.

We encourage you to watch this excellent video from Heart and Stroke: Why we all should know CPR.

I.C.E. – In Case of Emergency

Apparently this is a standard procedure all paramedics follow at the scene of an accident when they come across your cell phone.

We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers stored in its memory but nobody, other than ourselves, knows which of these numbers belong to our closest family or friends.

If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn’t know who to call. Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency? Hence this ‘ICE’ (In Case of Emergency) Campaign. The concept of ‘ICE’ is catching on quickly. It is a method of contact during emergency situations. As cell(mobile) phones are carried by the majority of the population, all you need to do is store the number of a contact person or persons who should be contacted during emergency under the name ‘ICE’ ( In Case Of Emergency).

The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when he went to the scenes of accidents, there were always mobile phones with patients, but they didn’t know which number to call. He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognized name for this purpose. In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel and hospital Staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialing the number you have stored as ‘ICE.’ For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3 etc. A great idea that will make a difference!

Let’s spread the concept of ICE by storing an ICE number in our Mobile phones today!

Please forward this. It won’t take too many ‘forwards’ before everybody will know about this . It really could save your life, or put a loved one’s mind at rest.

ICE will speak for you when you are not able to.

Warning Signs of a Stroke

Stroke is a medical emergency. Recognizing and responding immediately to the warning signs of stroke by calling 9-1-1 or your local emergency number can significantly improve survival and recovery. If a person is diagnosed with a stroke caused by a blood clot, doctors can administer a clot-busting drug available only at a hospital, and only within a few crucial hours after symptoms begin.That’s why it is very important to be able to recognize the 5 warning signs of stroke and immediately call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number.

The Five Signs:

Stroke can be treated. That’s why it is so important to recognize and respond to the warning signs.

  • Weakness – Sudden loss of strength or sudden numbness in the face, arm or leg, even if temporary.
  • Trouble speaking – Sudden difficulty speaking or understanding or sudden confusion, even if temporary.
  • Vision problems – Sudden trouble with vision, even if temporary.
  • Headache – Sudden severe and unusual headache.
  • Dizziness – Sudden loss of balance, especially with any of the above signs.

If you experience any of these symptoms, CALL 9-1-1 or your local emergency number immediately.

*Health Canada has approved the clot-busting drug called tPA to be used within 3 hours from the time symptoms begin. However, emerging science is now showing that tPA could be effective up to 4 ½ hours afterward. As a result, the Canadian Stroke Strategy has issued new Canadian Best Practices Recommendations for Stroke Care, which have included this new treatment time. Still, it will be up to the attending emergency doctors to determine when tPA may be administered or if it is appropriate to the situation.