There is no more devastating news than sudden cardiac arrest (sudden stoppage of the heart) occurring in the community, for both families and their surrounding community. Very few people survive from a sudden cardiac arrest that occurs outside the hospital, and those who do, often are left with severe brain injury. Previous studies have shown that the most important and effective treatment, is bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use of an automated electronic defibrillator or AED (shock to the heart). In general, very few people perform bystander CPR or know where an AED is or how to use one.

With every minute delay in starting CPR, the survival rate drops by 10%. Sudden cardiac arrest can be treated, and lives can be saved with wide availability of bystander CPR and AEDs.

Training school children with CPR and AED use will create a generation of lifesavers in the community, who will grow into adults that are more likely to provide help in an emergency situation.

By signing this petition you are helping organizations like CARE (Cardiac Arrest Response and Education) and concerned citizens to convince provincial governments to mandate this lifesaving training in all schools across Canada.