St John and ASB launch landmark CPR training

St John and ASB launch landmark CPR training programme

St John is teaming up with ASB to provide almost 5000 ASB people nationwide with the opportunity to learn CPR. It will be the largest ever rollout of a dedicated CPR education programme to be undertaken by a New Zealand corporate with St John.

The training workshops are being launched today in Auckland by ASB Chief Executive Charles Pink and St John Chief Executive Jaimes Wood.

“2010 is the 125th anniversary of St John in New Zealand, and the 50th anniversary of CPR as a modern resuscitation technique.” Mr Wood says. “We hope to raise the awareness of CPR through ASB staff being trained in their own communities across the country. The more people who can spring into action and perform CPR during an emergency, the greater the opportunity to save lives.”

ASB Chief Executive Charles Pink says this initiative is part of a long-term community partnership between St John and ASB. “The CPR training workshops are a great example of ASB and St John working together to save lives and strengthen community knowledge,” he says. “This is the largest dedicated CPR training programme for a single organisation ever launched by St John, and if just one life is saved as a result it will be worth it.”

St John believe that every New Zealand home should have at least one person trained in CPR. Anyone who goes into cardiac arrest needs immediate CPR and access as soon as possible to a defibrillator (which provides a safe electric shock to the heart). Ambulances and hospitals have defibrillators, as do a number of community locations (including seven ASB funded defibrillators at mall branches and sports centres).

The knowledge gained from the St John CPR workshops will mean ASB staff will be better prepared to assist their families as well as any member of the public in cardiac arrest.

The programme will run over four months, with more than 300 training workshops for ASB staff nationwide.

When ASB and St John first formed their community partnership in June 2008, more than 11,000 members of the public took up the opportunity to learn CPR for free.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend a first aid or CPR course – the feeling of saving a life is priceless.

To enrol for a St John First Aid course, go to www.stjohn.org.nz/training or phone 0800 FIRST AID (0800 347 782)

ENDS

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