Peachland Seniors to Learn Life Saving Skills

Seniors in Peachland will learn how to help save the lives of their loved ones thanks to a new workshop being offered to residents.

Approximately 40 seniors will take part in the Heart Attack and Stroke Awareness Workshop for Seniors on March 8^th. The interactive presentation is presented by BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) and the Peachland Fire Brigade.

“Sudden cardiac arrest and stroke can happen to anyone, at any time,” said Penticton MLA Dan Ashton. “It is great news that this workshop will provide local seniors with the training and information they need to potentially save the life of a loved one, friend or neighbour.”

This is the second annual workshop, which is supported by the District of Peachland and the Justice Institute of B.C. During the workshop, paramedic students and first responders work in small groups with seniors to show how to give CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator.

“The first workshop was so well-received by the participants as well as the instructors and we’re pleased to offer it again,” said course facilitator and BCEHS Okanagan South District Manager Anne Benn. “Not only are the seniors learning what to do if a loved one has a heart attack or stroke, but paramedic students and first responders also have the chance to practice providing patient care.”

In addition, course instructors run through scenarios of what it’s like to call 9-1-1 to help illustrate how the 9-1-1 triage system operates and what types of questions are asked of callers.

“As we get older, there is a fear that our loved ones may have a heart attack or stroke and with that comes insecurity about what to do,” said Peachland senior Doris Muhs, who took the course last year. “After taking this workshop I feel better prepared to handle a medical emergency. I now have the courage to call 9-1-1 and not just wait. The instruction during this workshop was fantastic because the information was presented slowly and repeated throughout, which is very important for us seniors. We all went home with more confidence about what to do in case of a heart attack or a stroke.”

In 2015, BCEHS responded to 3,565 suspected cardiac arrests throughout the province. Without immediate help, a victim of sudden cardiac arrest will suffer brain damage within three minutes. Evidence shows that when CPR and AEDs are used together in the first few minutes during a sudden cardiac arrest, survival rates can be doubled.