First Aid (Page 23)

At any given time, skills learned through first aid training could help someone in need or even save a life! Take for example the recent news story of two Toronto men who spent their flight to Beijing keeping a man alive who was suffering from a cruising-height heart attack; or the story about an EMT volunteer who saved a newborn baby’s life, after being notified of the nearby emergency through his smartphone app.

April 13, 2014, will forever mark a memorable practice for the Abreast with FORTitude dragon boat team. The team, made up of breast cancer survivors, were midway through a practice when their coach and steersperson heard a man cry for help from the fast-flowing waters of the Fraser River in British Columbia. They quickly jumped to action and paddled fiercely upstream for over 500 metres to reach the man in time. When they were close enough, they threw their extra PFD and a life bag to him and towed him to the safety of a nearby dock. 

The summer’s sun is what gets me through Canadian winters. When my friend decided to get married in Cuba in July, I embraced the imminent heat with a welcoming ‘bring it on’.  Most days I don’t use my little air conditioner, but when it broke recently and temperatures reached into the 30s, I had to get practical about keeping my cool.

The quick thinking and heroism Jared Nieboer displayed on a crisp Saturday morning in October was recently recognized by the Canadian Red Cross.  The Alberta man was presented with a Red Cross Rescuer Award last month for the actions he took to save a man from a car accident.

This warm summer weather brings all of us outdoors, which unfortunately includes mosquitoes, wasps and black flies. While most insect bites are harmless, for children and adults who have severe allergies, insects are more worrisome. So, with the arrival of summer, remember some basic prevention and what to do in case of allergic reactions.

Toothpaste for a burn? How about butter?

These ill-advised myths, along with many others, were debunked during an Emergency First Aid and CPR course I took yesterday in Toronto.

As Canadians prepare to open their cottages or go camping this long weekend, we want to share these top Red Cross tips to ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable trip.