A new cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) education initiative will be available for all Saskatchewan schools later this year. The Ministry of Education has partnered with the Heart & Stroke Foundation to provide resources to introduce the CardiaCrash program in classrooms throughout the province. “Providing the opportunity to offer CPR education in our schools is an important first step to protect lives and strengthen safety in our communities,” Minister of Education Everett Hindley said. “By equipping students with the knowledge and confidence to respond in an emergency, we are helping them be ready when every second matters.” CardiacCrash is an award winning program intended to remove barriers of CPR education. When available, it will provide one hour of online training to students in Grades 8-10. In 2024, Jory Meyer used CPR to help save his father’s life. Meyer first received CPR training in high school, as well as other times throughout his career in healthcare. “I think having those prior experiences with the CPR training just allowed my instincts to kick in in the moment. I am really thankful about the outcome we were able to have,” he said. A cardiac arrest is a medical emergency where the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. According to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, a cardiac arrest happens every nine minutes in Canada. Only one in 10 people survive on average. “There is lots of evidence out there that demonstrates the impacts of this and improving cardiac arrest survival rates, improving outcomes,” said Carolyn Cyr, the director of health Saskatchewan health policy and systems at the Health and Stroke Foundation. “There is a ripple effect. Students learn these skills, they bring that home and share it,” she said. Previously, CPR training for students in the province has been sporadic due to accessibilities. “Any CPR is better than no CPR. Having that courage, awareness and accountability of exposure to it, even at a young age, will only benefit our communities as these kids grow up,” said Paul Hills, a paramedic.
