Tag: heart month

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Celebrating National Heart Month in Canada

February in Canada is not just about winter chill; it’s also the month dedicated to matters of the heart – both metaphorically and literally. National Heart Month is an annual observance that puts the spotlight on cardiovascular health, encouraging Canadians to prioritize heart well-being through awareness, education, and proactive measures.

The Significance of National Heart Month

This month-long initiative serves as a timely reminder for Canadians to pay attention to their heart health. Cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, making it crucial to dedicate focused efforts to prevention, early detection, and lifestyle adjustments.

Key Themes

1. Education and Awareness:

National Heart Month emphasizes the dissemination of information regarding heart health. From understanding risk factors to recognizing symptoms, educational campaigns aim to empower individuals with the knowledge needed to make heart-healthy choices. National Heart Month encourages individuals to schedule appointments for blood pressure checks, cholesterol screenings, and other relevant tests to identify and address potential concerns early on.

2. Lifestyle Modifications:

Heart-healthy living involves adopting positive lifestyle changes. Canadians are encouraged to engage in regular physical activity, maintain a balanced diet, and manage stress effectively. These small but impactful adjustments contribute to overall cardiovascular well-being.

3. Protection:

An AED is a vital tool in preventing heart-related emergencies. Swift and accessible, it delivers crucial electric shocks during sudden cardiac arrests, substantially increasing survival chances. Integrating AEDs into public spaces and workplaces empowers individuals to act as effective first responders, making them instrumental in the prevention and management of heart health emergencies. For rural areas, where an ambulance can take much longer to arrive, investing in an AED can provide time sensitive care when a sudden cardiac emergency occurs. 

4. Community Engagement:

Communities across Canada come together during National Heart Month to organize events and activities promoting heart health. From group fitness classes to educational seminars, these initiatives foster a sense of collective responsibility towards cardiovascular well-being.

5. Heart-Healthy Recipes and Nutrition:

Nutrition is a cornerstone of heart health. National Heart Month provides an opportunity to share heart-healthy recipes and nutritional tips, encouraging Canadians to make mindful choices in their daily diets.

Conclusion

As we navigate through National Heart Month in Canada, let’s prioritize the well-being of our hearts. By fostering awareness, embracing heart-healthy lifestyles, investing in an AED, and participating in community initiatives, we can collectively reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases. Small changes can lead to significant improvements, ensuring that our hearts beat stronger and healthier for years to come. Here’s to a month of nurturing our hearts and embracing a lifetime of cardiovascular well-being.

Happy #HeartMonth

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February is Heart Month

What is Heart Month?  For over 60 years the Heart and Stroke Foundation has organized Heart Month. It is has become one of the largest fundraising campaigns in Canada. February is widely recognized as the month of love. Ahem, Valentine’s Day. It will come as no surprise that February is also a month dedicated to raising awareness for cardiovascular health. While it may be endearing to have your heart skip a beat for the love of your life or for your breath to be taken away, make sure the experience is one of love and not that of oxygen loss or abnormal heart rhythm. Heart disease is a general term that refers to the heart not working the way it should. Various forms of heart disease are present at birth, while other forms develop as we age. Practicing a healthy lifestyle and staying up to date with medical research, resources and care are critical components to reducing heart disease and living your best heart-healthy life. Get Involved

  • Start with the basics… wear red to raise awareness
  • Eat heart-healthy foods (2019 Canada’s Food Guide)
  • Reduce stress by practicing age-appropriate physical activity
  • Prepare for heart health emergencies with the purchase of an AED 
  • Get screened for risk factors. Understand your unique risks.
  • Become an organ donor and/or donate blood at your nearest clinic
  • Learn CPR. Get certified. Contact First Aid Canada.
  • Limit alcohol and tobacco consumption
  • Promote overall wellness with a healthy sleep schedule

Did you know? Cardiac arrest – a potential symptom of a heart attack and stroke – occurs when electrical activity in the heart malfunctions. This can happen suddenly and without warning. It is important that you and your family, friends and coworkers learn CPR because with a combination of dialing 911, early CPR and defibrillation you can increase the chance of survival by 75% or greater when performed on someone suffering from cardiac arrest. In the spirit of February being Heart Month, First Aid Canada is offering reduced pricing and free shipping on all AED orders! Shop now while supplies last.  Follow us on Instagram  for more heart healthy tips, tricks and interesting facts.

Life is Precious. Be Prepared.

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5 Ways to Prevent Heart Disease

Older woman

5 Ways to Prevent Heart Disease

As we are well into Heart Month 2018 – If you haven’t been following on social media we have been posting an interesting “Fact of The Day” or health tip every day to celebrate #HeartMonth!

In this week’s blog we’ve decided to share a few heart disease prevention tips to encourage you and your loved ones to make healthier choices every day to benefit your overall health and well-being.

1. Take Responsibility for Your Health

The first step to becoming healthier and reducing your risks of heart disease is to take full responsibility for your health. Once you have accepted that you are the only person responsible for your health you can begin to make healthier choices each day. Take the time to learn about different health concerns that run in your family which may present particular risks for you, for example diabetes. If you have diabetes or are at risk for it diabetes can increase your risk of heart disease dramatically.

2. Do Not Smoke or Expose Yourself to Second Hand Smoke

As you are probably aware smoking is extremely dangerous, unhealthy and can be very detrimental to your health. This is the same for second hand smoke. If you are currently smoking make a conscious effort to quit and avoid being around those who do. The evidence that smoking leads to not only heart disease, but lung disease, peripheral vascular disease and stroke is extremely overwhelming.

3. Maintain a Healthy Diet

By making a conscious effort to eat healthy and balanced portions each day you are decreasing your risk of heart disease. High fat diets and diets high in cholesterol increase risks of heart disease and diabetes. As mentioned above diabetes puts people at a much higher risk of heart disease. Be sure to get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked regularly if this is a risk for you. Simple, yet effective tips are to stay away from fad diets, incorporate a fruit or vegetable into every meal and snack and to push away from the table when you are full.

4. Exercise Regularly

Exercising regularly is extremely important as it regulates blood flow throughout the body, strengthens the cardiovascular system and promotes fat-loss. It is recommended that adults take 10,000 steps per day and this can easily be achieved by making lifestyle choices such as walking to work, walking on your lunch break and circulating throughout the office during the day. It is recommended that people also participate in 3-4 sessions of physical activity throughout the week, this can be achieved through gym sessions, sports, jogging, etc. Find whatever works for you and make a conscious effort to incorporate it into your weekly routine!

5. Limit Stress

Stress is fun for no one. It is important to recognize stressors in your life and what causes them as they can lead to heart disease and other illnesses. Stress combined with heart disease can lead to heart attack or sudden death. By finding the root of stress you can identify the triggers and take action to diminish anxious feelings. Regular exercise and calming activities such as yoga and meditation can work wonders in reducing stress. Find what works for you and always remember to breath! Your life depends on it.

If you are currently facing heart disease or know of someone who is it may be extremely beneficial to look into an Automated External Defibrillator for the home or office. Click here to learn more.

In conclusion, we hope you found a few simple tips to incorporate into your everyday life and share with your loved ones to help prevent heart disease. Don’t let those close to you become another statistic!

Life is Precious. Be Prepared.

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Family First Aid & Heart Safety in the Home

Family sitting together in white home

Family First Aid & Heart Safety in the Home

Because it is officially #HeartMonth 2018 the First Aid Canada team feels it is important to kindly address safety within the home. The home is a place we spend a large amount of our time each day and night. Both family and friends will continually be guests the home so it is important to be prepared with a first aid kit and an automated external defibrillator. 

Below you will find our reccomendations for transforming your home into a fully prepared and safe one!

First Aid Kits & Supplies

First Aid Canada is pleased to offer two different first aid kits designed especially for the home: 

If you are lucky enough to spend the holidays at the cottage, we also have kits suited especially for those spaces as well:

  • Cottage Kit – Standard
    Containing essential items for treating minor injuries in both an indoor and outdoor setting
  • Cottage Kit – Deluxe
    Containing essential items for treating minor injuries indoors and outdoors, plus more 

It may also come in useful to consider the following items: 

Automated External Defibrillators

Automated External Defibrillators or AEDs are life-saving devices that are used to restart the heart when facing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). SCA can occur at anytime and any age and a defibrillator close by can mean the difference between life and death. Keep your loved ones safe in the home (or cottage) by considering a Philips HeartStart AED for the home. First Aid Canada offers a comprehensive AED home package containing:

  • Philips HeartStart Home Defibrillator with 8-Year Warranty
  • Pre-Installed Battery (4 Years or 200 Shocks) with 4-Year Warranty
  • Pre-Installed Adult SMART Pads Cartridge
  • Slim Carry Case
  • AED Fast Response Kit (Includes: CPR Face Mask, Paramedic Scissors, Pair of Nitrile Gloves, Razor & Absorbent Cloth)
  • Owners Manual and Quick Reference Guide
  • Training Video
  • Window Decal & Call 9-1-1 Reminder

Don’t delay on being prepared! The First Aid Canada team is always here to answer questions: 1-855-322-4243. 

Life is Precious. Be Prepared.

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It’s Officially #HeartMonth 2018!

Hand holding heart

It’s Officially #HeartMonth 2018!

What is Heart Month?

Heart month happens every February! Heart Month is meant to spread awareness of heart disease and stroke to promote prevention, and at the same time raise money for research on the best treatments when people do get it. 

Who is behind Heart Month?

For over 60 years the Heart and Stroke Foundation has organized Heart Month. It is has become one of the largest fundraising campaigns in Canada in the battle against these two preventable killers. Since its inception, tens of thousands of individuals and both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations take part including, various charities, health organizations and companies such as First Aid Canada. 

What can I do to help?

Heart Month brings together tens of thousands of Canadians who volunteer and donate to raise funds to help support life-saving research and the raising of awareness of heart disease and stroke within the community. Learn how you can participate and join the Heart Month Community.

You can also spread awareness about heart health to your friends, family and coworkers by having conversations about the reality and prevention of heart disease. By taking the time to learn more about keeping your heart healthy you can educate and help the people in your life. Here are some simple tips on how to prevent heart disease and heart-related incidences:

  • Quitting smoking
  • Avoiding alcohol
  • Exercising regularly
  • Eating a healthy diet
  • Avoiding high cholesterol foods
  • Managing Stress Well 

For the month of February First Aid Canada will be publishing a new fact daily on social channels to help raise awareness of #HeartMonth. Follow the First Aid Canada #HeartMonth campaign on these social platforms:

As a company we challenge you to “share if you care.” Help prevent what is preventable when it comes to heart disease and stroke and learn more about how you can save lives…

Every year, over 40,000 Canadians suffer sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) – that’s one incident every 12 minutes. For every one minute delay in defibrillation, survival rates decrease by up to 10%. Automated External Defibrillators can be safely used by almost anyone and offer the best chance of survival from cardiac arrest. In recognition of Heart Month 2016, First Aid Canada will be offering FREE SHIPPING on all orders containing AEDs for the month of February.

For more information, please contact us at 1-855-322-4243.

Life is Precious. Be Prepared. 

Sitting at desk with cellphone

How to Save Lives in Your Workplace

Office safety is crucial in any workplace. If you haven’t had the opportunity to read up on the Provincial Safety Requirements for your province on our blog you should definitely do so by clicking here or finding your province below:

Along with an adequate first aid kit is important to have an Automated External Defibrillator onsite in the office. Cardiac arrest can occur at any age and it has even been recorded that the most common time for people to fall victim of a heart attack is Monday mornings… We can’t think of anyone who wants a side of heart attack with their double Americano.

When an AED and CPR are immediately available, the chance of survival from sudden cardiac arrest is substantially improved. Philips Heart Start AED’s are especially easy to operate as there easy to read graphics and voice instructions. It is lso highly reccomended that wherever an AED is located in a public space that it is visibly marked with a sign and all employees are aware of it’s locatio

For offices, First Aid Canada highly recommends the Philips Onsite Automated External Defibrillator. For a more visual demonstration, please take a look at the video below:

For additional AEDs available from First Aid Canada and how they work please check out the links below:

Save life in the workplace! If you have any questions please feel free to contact the First Aid Canada team at 1-855-322-4243.

Life is Precious. Be Prepared.

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February is Heart Month!

Heart Month Blog
 

What is Heart Month?

Heart month happens every February! Heart Month is meant to spread awareness of heart disease and stroke to promote prevention, and at the same time raise money for research on the best treatments when people do get it. 

Who is behind Heart Month?

For over 60 years the Heart and Stroke Foundation has organized Heart Month. It is has become one of the largest fundraising campaigns in Canada in the battle against these two preventable killers. Since its inception, tens of thousands of individuals and both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations take part including, various charities, health organizations and companies such as First Aid Canada. 

What can I do to help?

Heart Month brings together tens of thousands of Canadians who volunteer and donate to raise funds to help support life-saving research and the raising of awareness of heart disease and stroke within the community. Learn how you can participate and join the Heart Month Community.

You can also spread awareness about heart health to your friends, family and coworkers by having conversations about the reality and prevention of heart disease. By taking the time to learn more about keeping your heart healthy you can educate and help the people in your life. Here are some simple tips on how to prevent heart disease and heart-related incidences:

  • Quitting smoking
  • Avoiding alcohol
  • Exercising regularly
  • Eating a healthy diet
  • Avoiding high cholesterol foods
  • Managing Stress Well 

For the month of February First Aid Canada will be publishing a new fact daily on social channels to help raise awareness of #HeartMonth. Follow the First Aid Canada #HeartMonth campaign on these social platforms:

As a company we challenge you to “share if you care.” Help prevent what is preventable when it comes to heart disease and stroke and learn more about how you can save lives… 

Every year, over 40,000 Canadians suffer sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) – that’s one incident every 12 minutes. For every one minute delay in defibrillation, survival rates decrease by up to 10%. Automated External Defibrillators can be safely used by almost anyone and offer the best chance of survival from cardiac arrest. In recognition of Heart Month 2016, First Aid Canada will be offering a 10% discount on all AEDs for the month of February.

For more information, please contact us at 1-855-322-4243.

Life is Precious. Be Prepared. 

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Welcome to Heart Month 2015!

red mittens holding snow heart

Every 7 minutes in Canada, someone dies from heart disease or stroke. In fact, it is expected that incidences of heart disease and stroke will increase in the upcoming generations due to poor diets (including high sodium intake), increased stress and sedentary work environments.

Heart Disease Facts

  • Nine in 10 Canadians (90%) have at least one risk factor for heart disease or stroke (smoking, alcohol, physical inactivity, obesity, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes)
  • The leading cause of hospitalization in Canada continues to be heart disease and stroke, accounting for 16.9 % of total hospitalizations (19.8% of all hospitalizations for men and 14.0% for women)
  • Today, less than 10% of children meet recommended physical activity guidelines and less than half eat the recommended fruit and vegetables for optimum health
  • Up to 40,000 cardiac arrests (a severe effect of heart disease) occur each year in Canada. That’s one cardiac arrest every 12 minutes

What is Heart Month?

February is heart month. Heart month is meant to spread awareness of heart disease and stroke to promote prevention, and at the same time raise money for research on the best treatments when people do get it.

Who is behind Heart Month?

For over 60 years the Heart and Stroke Foundation has organized Heart Month. It is has become one of the largest fundraising campaigns in Canada in the battle against these two preventable killers. Since its inception, tens of thousands of individuals and both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations take part including, various charities, health organizations and companies such as First Aid Canada.

What can I do to help?

Heart Month brings together tens of thousands of Canadians who volunteer and donate to raise funds which will help support life-saving research and the raising of awareness of heart disease and stroke within the community. Learn how you can participate and join the Heart Month Community.

You can also spread awareness about heart health to your friends, family and network by taking the time to learn more about keeping your heart healthy. Heart disease and stroke can be avoided by making healthier choices such as:

  • Quitting smoking
  • Avoiding alcohol
  • Exercising regularly
  • Eating a healthy diet
  • Avoiding high cholesterol foods
  • Managing Stress Well

For the month of February First Aid Canada will be publishing a new fact daily on social channels to help raise awareness of #HeartMonth. Follow the First Aid Canada #HeartMonth campaign on these social platforms:

As a company we challenge you to “share if you care.” Help prevent what is preventable when it comes to heart disease and stroke and learn more about how you can save lives…

In recognition of Heart Month 2015, First Aid Canada will be offering a 10% discount on all AEDs. For more information, please contact us at 1-855-322-4243.

Life is Precious. Be Prepared.