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Empowering Canadians to Save Lives

The ACT Foundation's mission is to promote health and to empower Canadians to save lives. To date, more than 4.8 million youth have been trained by their high school teachers, with an additional 350,000 being trained each year. Many lives are being saved.

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  • 4,800,000

    Students trained in CPR

  • 1,800

    High schools across Canada have established the CPR Program

  • 8,300+

    Teachers have been trained as CPR Instructors for their students

  • 57,000

    Mannequins donated by the ACT Foundation to schools

What We Do

The ACT Foundation is an award-winning national charitable organization that is establishing free CPR and AED programs in Canadian high schools. The ACT High School CPR Program is built on ACT’s community-based model of partnerships and support, whereby CPR training mannequins and AED training units are donated to schools and teachers are trained (Train the Trainer model) to teach all students. Schools take ownership and maintain the program as it enters the realm of a national standard by our education system. The program is seeing youth across the country empowered with lifesaving skills and knowledge they take to their present and future families and communities. Many lives are being saved. Canada is a world leader in high school CPR.

For Teachers

For Teachers

The ACT Foundation trains teachers as CPR Instructors for their students. Schools take ownership of the program, which empowers ALL youth to save lives, and predisposes youth to act in an emergency.

  • High school teachers are trained in CPR and AED and then train students as a regular part of the health and physical education curriculum.
  • Teachers are provided with resources for training students.
  • Creates teachable moment for heart health education.
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 For Students

For Students

Empowering students with the skills and knowledge to save a life is a proactive approach to involving youth as first responders in emergencies involving family and friends. CPR becomes a life skill.

  • Empowers youth with lifesaving skills and knowledge they take to their families and communities.
  • Provides CPR certificate useful for job applications.
  • Promotes leadership and civic responsibility, and interest in careers in health sciences.
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Award Nominations

Award 03

Rescue Award

Presented to students and teachers who have used any of the skills learned in the CPR program.

Click Here to Nominate
 Award 04

Leadership ACTion Award

Presented to students who demonstrate leadership in the CPR program.

Click Here To Nominate
 Award 02

Hands of ACTion Award

Presented to students who provide general classroom help to teachers.

Click Here To Nominate

Rescue Stories

Youth and teachers who have been trained through the ACT High School CPR and AED Program are stepping forward and using their lifesaving skills in a wide range of emergencies involving family, friends, and strangers. Many lives are being saved.

Countless Lives Saved

Report a Rescue

Basketball coach saves student with CPR and an AED

A Grade 10 student is alive today thanks to the quick provision of CPR and the use of an AED by his basketball coach Mike Rowley, of St. Mother Teresa High School.

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Teacher saves a stranger with CPR

An ironic chain of events led to an unusual rescue story for Marcia, a high school teacher in Kingston.

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School staff saves life during volleyball tournament

“We were in the middle of a game when a man ran in asking if anyone was a doctor,” recalls Tom. “I told him I knew CPR and rushed to the other gym with Karen.”

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See all rescue stories

Province:
Alberta

Students Trained:
780,500

Schools Participating:
315

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Province:
British Columbia

Students Trained:
678,000

Schools Participating:
245

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Province:
Manitoba

Students Trained:
60,000

Schools Participating:
21

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Province:
New Brunswick

Students Trained:
24,000

Schools Participating:
10

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Province:
Newfoundland & Labrador

Students Trained:
11,000

Schools Participating:
16

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Territory:
Northwest Territories

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Province:
Nova Scotia

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Territory:
Nunavut

Students Trained:
1,700

Schools Participating:
1

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Province:
Ontario

Students Trained:
2,900,000

Schools Participating:
780

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Province:
Prince Edward Island

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Province:
Quebec

Students Trained:
914,000

Schools Participating:
400

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Province:
Saskatchewan

Students Trained:
43,500

Schools Participating:
12

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Territory:
Yukon

Students Trained:
1,000

Schools Participating:
1

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Our Impact Across Canada

The ACT Foundation has established the High School CPR Program in over 1,800 high schools across Canada, and is now enhancing the CPR Program with AED training.

See all regions and schools list

Get ACT in Your School

Students learn the 4 ‘Rs’ of CPR: RISK factors for heart disease and stroke, and the importance of a heart-healthy lifestyle; how to RECOGNIZE the warning signs of a heart attack, stroke, or other developing emergency; how to REACT; and the hands-on skill of CPR, how to use a defibrillator, and the airway obstruction manoeuvre – RESUSCITATION. Schools own the program. High school teachers teach. Mannequins come from the community. Schools maintain over the long term. It is easy to set up and easy to maintain.

Contact the ACT Foundation to find out how.

Become a Partner

The ACT High School CPR and AED Program is built on an award-winning, community-based model of partnerships and support, whereby ACT finds local partners who donate training mannequins, AED training units, teacher training, and AEDs to schools.

For partnership opportunities and to learn how your organization can promote health and wellness, empower youth to save lives, and support the health of Canadian communities,  contact us.

Our National Health Partners

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