I have commented several times in my blogs about the drowning of young children in Quebec, on or about St Jean Baptiste. I even suggested that June 25 be known as ‘drowning awareness' day.
This year, sad stories came a few days earlier in the month.On Friday (June 22), a five-year-old girl drowned in the Lievre River in the Laurentians. On Saturday (June 23), a three-year-old boy was pulled unconscious from the family pool in Ste-Martine. On Sunday (June 24), a 23-month old boy also nearly drowned in a family pool in Terrebonne. Both boys are still in critical condition.
With 33 Quebecers drowned so far in 2012, compared to only 22 at the same time last year, plus the near-drowning incidents that happened over the weekend involving very young children, the focus of every parent (camp councilor, teacher, lifeguard, baby-sitter, ...) should be on keeping kids safe around water. For young kids between 2 and 6 years of age, drowning can occur in as little as 20 or 30 seconds.
Vigilance is key; couple of simple steps go a long way in preventing accidents, however constant supervision is a must. Staying within arm’s reach of our young children and the use of lifejackets for inexperienced swimmers are simple prevention tools. Knowing CPR is also essential.
As a former National lifeguard instructor, and director of the CPR Instructor’s Network and father of young children, my condolences go out to all the families affected and urge the public to make our environments safer for everyone.
May 23, 2012 Emergency Medical services Week and CPR
May 20 to 26, 2012 is the National Emergency Medical Services Week, an opportunity to recognize and thank the amazing men and women of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) who are out in the community 24-7 helping those in need.
Having EMS personnel in every city (paramedics and ambulance technicians to volunteer first responders) is great, as their jobs save lives. But just think of all the additional lives that can be saved if more people learn CPR. It is an obvious statement that if more people learn real CPR, then more people would be alive today. It is unfortunate that many people learn these life-saving skills from TV programs such as ER or Baywatch, or simply procrastinate about taking a class and never actually learn the skills. It should also be noted it is equally unfortunate that all to often, EMS arrives on scene to find nobody performing CPR.
The CPR Instructor Network teaches hundreds of classes every year, corresponding to thousands of students acquiring the skills needed help resuscitate someone in cardio-respiratory arrest. We pride ourselves in that our certified instructors have real-life experience as primary care providers and educators, and can make the serious topic of CPR fun to learn in our classrooms.
Perhaps the advent of EMS Week will urge you and your friends and family to take a CPR class. The skills you learn today may help save a life tomorrow.
February 17, 2012 Drowning Death of Baby in Laval - Feb 13, 2012
My condolences go out to the family.
Laval police said a mother left the baby and his two-and-a-half year old sister unsupervised in the tub for just a few minutes in the family's home in the Auteuil district of Laval on Sunday evening.
When she returned to the bathroom, she found the boy had slipped under the water.
The mother gave the infant mouth–to–mouth resuscitation, and he was rushed to hospital, but he died later that night at Sainte-Justine Children's Hospital.
Hopefully other parents can take a message away from the family’s loss. This week’s events, although tragic, must serve as a wake-up call to parents. Let this drowning serve as a reminder that it only takes 15 to 20 seconds for a toddler to drown, in as little as a few centimeters of water.
Jonathan Halpert, former National Lifeguard Instructor and the director of CPR Instructor's Network Canada states parents are responsible for their children when in or around water, be it a swimming pool or a bathtub. The parent must stay in the bathroom when the baby takes a bath to ensure safety; this responsibility should never be given to an older sister or brother. To avoid distraction, they should bring everything they might need into the bathroom before they run the bath – towels, pajamas, even a cordless phone – so that there is never a reason to leave a child unattended. In addition, parents must know what to do in case of life-threatening emergencies, namely, learn CPR.
January 5, 2012 2012 New Year's Safety Resolutions
Did you make any resolutions for the New Year?
With the New Year less than a week old, now would be a great time to make our lives and homes safer. Here are a few suggestions:
Take a CPR class - Studies have shown that just by taking a CPR or First Aid class helps reduce the amount of life-threatening emergencies around you... that means you, your loved-ones, friends and co-workers are a lot safer. Organize a CPR c ourse for your home, office, school, workplace, community center, .... We will be glad to teach your courses.
Go on a "Hazard Hunt" - Identify other, possibly new hazards throughout your home or business, and take action to eliminate these risks. As children get older, new or different risks may come-about requiring some child-proofing.
Fall proof your home – 82% of accidents to people over the age of 75 are fall related. A home visit by a certified safety professional or occupational therapist will help identify risk factors and tell you what to do to make your home safer. For example you may want to avoid throw rugs or have cracks and uneven pathways repaired. Call us for a home or workplace safety inspection.
Install at least one carbon monoxide alarm in sleeping areas. It is so important to have a CO2 detector in your bedroom to awake and alert you.
Install visible, reflective house numbers - The ambulance and Fire Department need to find houses quickly when responding to an emergency call. Go outside and see how visible your house number would be in the dark. They can lose valuable time searching for the house which could mean the difference between life and death.
Best wishes for 2012! Have a happy, healthy and safe year.
Spring flooding, severe storms, and earthquakes have recently reminded Canadians of the importance of emergency preparedness, making this year’s Emergency Preparedness Week (EP Week) especially relevant. The 16th annual EP Week runs from May 1 – 7, 2011, and encourages everyone to take the time now to plan for the unexpected. The theme is “72 Hours…Is Your Family Prepared?”
EP Week is a national event coordinated by Public Safety Canada in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments and other partners. Canadians are encouraged to be ready to cope on their own for at least the first 72 hours of an emergency. This will enable first responders to focus on those in urgent need.
During EP Week, countless events (including CPR demonstrations and training sessions) are held across the country. Canadians are encouraged to take part in EP Week activities and to prepare for emergencies by following these simple steps:
Know the risks – Learn how to prepare for the natural hazards in Canada and in your region. Tailor your emergency plan and kit to the common risks in your area.
Make an emergency plan – Having a family emergency plan will save time and make real situations less stressful. During EP Week, draft or update your plan, and practice it with your family.
Get an emergency kit- In case of a major event, you will need some basic supplies set aside. Many emergency kit items may already be in your home. This EP Week, take the time to update or assemble a basic emergency kit that meets your family’s needs.
Learn CPR, AED and First Aid – Learn the life-saving skills needed in a medical emergency or following trauma and injury. Waiting for an ambulance alone may not be an alternative during a disaster or large scale emergency.
For all your CPR, AED and First Aid needs, you may contact CPR Network of Canada, info@CPRNETWORK.ca
March 22, 2011 AED in Schools: EMSB could do more!
The English Montreal School Board, EMSB, has recently anounced that they will be placing an automated external defibrillator in every one of their schools. To see the full story, click here.
The EMSB is doing the right thing by making emergency medical care readily accessible in all its facilities. But, at the same time, the school board can do much more by ensuring all of its students are trained in CPR. Every student, teacher and staff member is capable of saving a life.
CPR training can easily be added to the curriculum.
The CPR Instructor's Network has been working with a number of schools in the Montreal area, including some EMSB schools, providing CPR training to the students as part of their phys.ed program, health and safety program or leadership development program. Unfortunately, CPR training is not a mandatory part of the curriculum for the EMSB or other school boards. Just think... in other juristictions, high school students are required to complete CPR training in order to be eligible to graduate.
For the second year in a row, June 25th is blackened by the drowning death of a young child.
Last year, a 7 year old died while on a field trip with his school's daycare. Similarly, this year a nine year old boy has drowned while on a school field trip to a water park just north of Montreal in what was supposed to be a celebration of the end of the school year. Click here for the full story.
Perhaps the day after St Jean Baptiste should become a 'drowning awareness' day. Timing would be perfect as it coincides with the start of the summer season when children and adults alike spend more time near the water. Boating safety. Waterpark safety. Backyard swimming pool safety. Safety near the country-house's lake. Pools can offer swimming lessons and water safety workshops. Parents can take CPR classes.
Jonathan Halpert, former National Lifeguard Instructor and the current director of CPR Instructor's Network Canada, spoke with CJAD's dan laxer about the importance of swimming lessons but noted swimming lessons alone do not drown-proof a child. Educations must be accompanied by vigilent supervision when in or around water as well as removal of dangers (this can be designated swim areas or using proper safety equipment like a life-jacket). Knowing CPR and what to do in an emergency is a must.
The CPR Instructor's Network offers all level of CPR courses, including 'Family and Friends CPR', "HeartSaver CPR' and courses with AED defibrillator training... all of which can easily be taught at your location or ours. Pool Safety Inspections and Safety Lectures are also available.
June 23, 2010 Are you prepared: Earthquake shakes Montreal and area
At approximately 1:45pm today, an earthquake rocked Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto areas. The 5.5 magnitude earthquake was centered in the city of Buckingham, Quebec in the Outaouais region. Tremors could be felt in Montreal, Quebec and the Toronto area.The quake lasted 10-to-30 seconds. There were no reports of damage or deaths in the city.
Following the earthquake, most people were talking about it... where they were; being uncertain if it actually was an earthquake; unaware of what to do during an earthquake (stand between a doorway or hide under a bed). This raises a few important question: what if the disaster was worse? what if power was knocked out for a day or two or longer? what if roadways and evacuation routes were not functional? what if people were hurt? do you have an emergency action plan? do you have eemergency resources available at home (flashlight, food, blanket...)?
Being prepared for emergencies are important. Hopefully action plans and training will never have to be put into use, but knowing what to do is important.
A good place to start getting prepared is to take a CPR class. Or, perhaps even gather supplies for a First Aid Kit.
The CPR Instructor's Network can help: CPR and safety classes, emergency equipment, aed defibrillators, action plans, and more... Call us for all your emergency preparedness needs. www.CPRNETWORK.ca
March 13, 2010 2010-03-12 More CPR training, defibrillators can save more lives
On Friday march 12, 2010, a coronor's inquest into the schoolyard death of a 12 year old boy concluded that more CPR training and more defibrillators could have made a difference in the boys outcome, and can definitely save more lives. Click here for the full story.
At the CPR Instructor's Network, we feel sad that the death of a young boy and a formal inquiry was required to conclude the obvious. Our students are often in awe when told less than 10% of the population in Montreal is certified in CPR. The CPR Instructor's Network has been working for years with high schools and elementary schools, driving schools and community groups promoting CPR, providing training, and educationg about the importance of early defibrillation and public access defibrillator programs. At the moment, our nations capital Ottawa, has 10 times the amount of public access defibrillators compared to Montreal.
It is unfortunate that most people take a cpr and/or first aid course either due to government regulations (such as to abide by CSST rules for the workplace in Quebec) or after a lifethreatening emergency of a loved-one (such as after a relative has had a heart attack).
Imagine if the people around you were better able and better equiped to respond to an emergency. CPR and AED training can be accomplished in just a few short hours, and, with a drastic decrease in the cost of AED defibrillators over the past 10 years, a defibrillator can be purchased even for home use. There is really no excuse why a larger portion of our population is not trained in the life saving skills of CPR, and AED defibbrilators are on there way to becoming a standard of care.
For CPR training or AED purchases and needs, the CPR Instructor's Network is the industry leader.
August 22, 2009 2009-08-20 Another Drowning in Montreal
2009-08-20 Within the past three weeks, there has been 2 near drownings and 2 actual drownings of children in the Montreal area. The most recent case occured today: ``Child Dies One Day After Being Pulled From Cote-St-Luc Pool`` Click here for the full story.
Jonathan Halpert, former National Lifeguard Instructor and the current director of CPR Instructor's Network Canada states parents are responsible for their children when in or around a pool, be it a backyard pool or a city public pool. Being near the pool is not enough; Parents must ensure they or someone responsible and capable are supervising their child. Lifeguards cannot watch every person in the pool at the same time. If a youngchild or weak swimmer is not within arms reach, then they are too far from you.
In addition, parents must know what to do in case of emergency, namely, learn CPR. This weeks events, although tragic, must serve as a wake-up call to parents. Even when at a public pool, the lifeguards may not be readily available or nearby to respond to emergencies.
July 27, 2009 2009-07-20 Pool Safety Rules: 4-Sided Fencing
2009-07-20: New backyard pool safety rules requiring four-sided fencing, were announced today and will be under Provincial regulations. Click here to see the full story.
Jonathan Halpert, former National Lifeguard Instructor and the current director of CPR Instructor's Network Canada hopes these new rules will not give pool owners and parents a false sense of security. "Removing direct access to the pool is just one aspect of prevention," states Halpert. "Enclosing the pool area does not take away the all important need of proper supervision of children around a pool area. Educating yourself in CPR and what to do in case of life-threatening emergencies is also a crucial step to prevention and ensuring safety"
The CPR Instructor's Network offers all level of CPR courses, including 'Family and Friends CPR', "HeartSaver CPR' and courses with AED defibrillator training... all of which can easily be taught at your location or ours. Pool Safety Inspections and Safety Lectures are also available.
July 27, 2009 2009-06-25 Boy Drowns On Field Trip With Camp
2009-06-25: The summer season has just begun, and already top news stories include the sad death of a child - "Boy Drowns On Field Trip With Camp" A 7-year-old boy has drowned while on a trip with his school's day care on Tuesday June 25, 2009, Click here to see the full story.
Jonathan Halpert, former National Lifeguard Instructor and the current director of CPR Instructor's Network Canada states that most drownings can be prevented. "Prevention is a three pronged process," he states, involving supervision, removal of dangers, and education. SUPERVISION: if you cannot watch your children, make sure some qualified and capable is; Do not rely on a lifeguard at a pool or beach to be your babysitter. REMOVAL OF DANGERS: for a pool area, this can include gates, motion sensors, and fences. EDUCATION: first and foremost, if you have a backyard pool or care for children, educate yourself by learning CPR and what to do in case of lifethreatening emergencies; teach water safety rules to the children (such as never swim alone, and only swim in known waters); have your children participate in swimming lessons.
The CPR Instructor's Network offers all level of CPR courses, including 'Family and Friends CPR', "HeartSaver CPR' and courses with AED defibrillator training... all of which can easily be taught at your location or ours. Pool Safety Inspections and Safety Lectures are also available.