Centre Hastings Students to be Empowered to Save Lives

MADOC, Ontario, April 27, 2004 – The ACT Foundation and community partners launch the ACT High School CPR Program today, at 11:00 a.m. at Centre Hastings Secondary School. The event will be marked by the donation of a set of CPR mannequins to the school on behalf of the Kiwanis Clubs of Madoc and Tweed.

Through the ACT High School CPR Program, all Grade 9 students will be trained in the lifesaving skills of CPR. The four-hour CPR course will be taught to all Grade 9 students by their physical education teachers each year as a mandatory part of the curriculum.

The ACT High School CPR Program is based upon community partnerships and support. As such, ACT had brought together local partners to bring the program to Centre Hastings Secondary School. The Kiwanis Clubs of Madoc and Tweed have joined forces to donate the mannequins needed to conduct the CPR training.

“Kiwanis recognizes worthwhile projects for youth. Through this program I can envision so many lives being saved,” said Karen Jones, Director for the Kiwanis Club of Madoc. “I am most happy that Madoc and Tweed Kiwanis Clubs could work together on this very worthwhile project for our local high school.”

The Belleville Intelligencer has committed to donating the printing of the student and teacher manuals for the program for Centre Hastings Secondary School, as well as all high schools within the Hastings & Prince Edward District School Board. The Regional Base Hospital of Southeastern Ontario, as the teacher training partner, trains the high school teachers as CPR instructors for the program and provides valuable medical direction.

“Ambulance response times are longer in the country. It’s all the more important for folks to be able to look after each other,” said Dr. Justin Maloney, Medical Director of the Base Hospital Program for Ottawa-Carleton.

Through the ACT High School CPR Program, students will be prepared to help a parent or grandparent should they experience a heart attack; a brother, sister or child they are babysitting should they choke; or a friend involved in a drowning emergency.

“This program will train and empower students at Centre Hastings Secondary School to help save lives in their local community and abroad. As a school board, we are very appreciative of the Tweed and Madoc Kiwanis Clubs for their significant contributions to this project. Providing our students with CPR Training builds responsibility, independence and provides them with a life-long skill,” stated Judy Edgar, Chair of the Hastings & Prince Edward District School Board.

Grant Montgomery, School Principal at Centre Hastings High School, is pleased to have the ACT High School CPR Program added to the curriculum and brought to his school by the local community.

“Community is a real focus at the school here, and it’s special programs like these that enrich our curriculum. Without the community support, we wouldn’t be able to offer this lifesaving training to our students.”

About ACT
The ACT Foundation is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to establishing CPR as a mandatory program in every Canadian high school. ACT raises funds for CPR mannequins for schools and guides schools in program setup. ACT’s corporate health partners are companies in the research-based pharmaceutical industry: AstraZeneca, Aventis Pharma and Pfizer Canada. The ACT High School CPR Program already exists in 700 high schools in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Nunavut. To date, over 500,000 students from across Canada have been trained in CPR through this program.