Canada: Toronto Mayor Tory declares February 14, 2018 as Toronto's first annual Safe City Day
Toronto, Feb 15 (IBNS): Toronto Mayor John Tory on Thursday declared February 14, 2018 as Toronto's first annual Safe City Day, media reports said.
"February is Heart Month, and what better day to declare a day of reflecting on the heart than February 14," Tory was reported to state. "When I realized how many people could be saved in Toronto if bystanders stepped up quickly to help in a medical emergency, I knew we should draw more attention to learning CPR and the use of automated external defibrillators."
Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Wednesday, members of the public, City Council members and City staff had an opportunity to try Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) -- a life-saving technique -- and become familiar with using an automated external defibrillator (AED).
After Toronto was declared a Safe City by City Council in 1998, TPS now trains about 7,500 people annually in first aid, CPR and AED use.
"Toronto Paramedic Services' Safe City program trains residents in first aid, CPR and how to use an AED," said Toronto Paramedic Services (TPS) Chief Gord McEachen. "There are approximately 2,000 sudden cardiac arrests every year in the city of Toronto, most of them in public places, where early CPR intervention from a bystander can make a difference in saving someone's life. You are the strongest link to helping to save someone's life after they suffer a sudden cardiac arrest."
In addition, TPS maintains more than 1,500 public access defibrillators in public places across the city, including TTC subway stations, community centres, swimming pools, skating rinks and some schools.
Anyone can reportedly help paramedics save a life when encountering an apparent cardiac-arrest emergency by calling 911 and get an AED or send someone to get an AED, start CPR, activate the AED as soon as possible and follow the voice prompts. and continue CPR until paramedics arrive.
"Thanks to my friends Bayete, David and Gerald, who started CPR and used the AED on me when I suffered my cardiac arrest on November 23, 2017, I am standing here today celebrating with all of you," John Turco, a cardiac arrest survivor was reported to state.
(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)
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