November 14th is World Diabetes Day

At Coast2Coast, we continuously want to bring awareness of conditions that can be helped with CPR/AED and First Aid training. This November, we want to bring attention to Diabetes, as World Diabetes Day is on November 14th.

Over 11 million Canadians are diagnosed with diabetes, or pre-diabetes. Did you know every 3 minutes, a Canadian is diagnosed with diabetes?! Considering that almost 1 in 3 Canadians have some form of diabetes or pre-diabetes, it is easy to say we probably know at least one person with diabetes. In that case, we need to understand what exactly diabetes is, what happens if a diabetic emergency happens to someone around us, and how we can be prepared for a diabetic emergency.

What to know about Diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic condition, which is characterized by the body’s inability to process glucose (commonly known as sugar) in the bloodstream.

The pancreas, which sits right behind the stomach, releases insulin, a hormone that causes glucose to move from the bloodstream into your cells, where it is used to create energy for the body.

For someone who has diabetes, the pancreas either deteriorates the insulin before reaching the bloodstream, or the body’s cells are unable to reciprocate to insulin. With ether scenario creates an abnormal increase of glucose to the body.

A person with diabetes can manage their condition, by injections of insulin or oral medication. A well-balanced diet and healthy & regular exercise regime plays a huge role in maintaining a healthy body with diabetes as well.

The timing of meals and snacks is critical along with proper use of medication to maintain their insulin levels. When daily routine is disrupting this routine, either by going on a holiday, or becoming ill and not taking diabetic medication, can fluctuate the sugar levels more than usual.

Types of Diabetes

There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 appears when the immune system mistakenly attacks and kills the beta cells in the pancreas. This causes small amounts, or even no insulin to be distributed in the body. As a result, sugar builds up instead of being used as energy. Only ten percent of people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes normally develops in childhood or adolescence, but can develop in adulthood as well. Type 1 is always prescribed with insulin. A planned diet also helps with keeping blood sugar at the right levels.

Type 2 diabetes takes place when the body can’t properly utilize the insulin that is released (insulin insensitivity), or does not create enough insulin. About ninety percent of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is often diagnosed as an adult, but can be diagnosed to children in extreme cases. It requires a healthy meal plan, daily exercise and medication such as insulin or glucose tablets.

There is also pre-diabetes, with estimates of almost 6 million Canadians carrying the condition. Prediabetes refers to glucose levels that are above the average level, but still are not high enough to be considered for type 2 diabetes. Although not everyone with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes, most people will.

It is very important to know if your body contains prediabetes, because extensive medical research has determined that some long-term complications associated with diabetes (heart disease, strokes, ulcers) may begin with pre-diabetes.

What Kind of Diabetic Emergencies Can Occur?

With low levels of insulin can result in either two ways: hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.

Hypoglycemia develops when insulin levels are too high in relation to the level of glucose in the body. Small doses of glucose are burned easily through energy, and with missing meals and snacks, exercising more than your daily routine, can offset your balance and cause an insulin shock. It is the most likely cause of diabetic emergencies.

Hyperglycemia develops when insulin levels are too low and the level of glucose in the body is higher than average. If one who has diabetes eats more than usual, does not exercise, and does not take proper medication can result in a diabetic coma.

If one is suffering from a diabetic emergency, the most common symptoms to watch out for include:

  • Non-responsive communication
  • Behavioural changes including confusion, irritability, or aggression
  • Rapid breathing
  • Cool, balmy skin
  • Very pale skin
  • Appearing as intoxicating (e.g., slurred speech, difficulty walking)
  • Feeling ill
  • Seizures

What Do I Do If Someone Has A Diabetic Emergency?

CALL 911 if:

  • You are unable to give the person sugar
  • The person is not fully awake
  • The person has a seizure
  • The person does not respond after ten minutes of given sugar or insulin

If the person is unable to follow simple commands, to swallow safely, or is unresponsive, ensure that 911 has been called, and place the person in the recovery position.

If they are able to follow simple commands, answer questions, and swallow safely, offer 15 to 20 grams of sugar.

Check the nutrition facts on packaged products to determine how much to provide to the victim. The following are samples of sugar to give, listed in order of preference:

  • Oral glucose tablets
  • Chewable candy
  • Fruit juice
  • Fruit strips
  • Milk
  • Other forms of sugar, such as non-diet pop or a spoonful of granulated sugar mixed into a cup of water

Monitor the person’s condition for 10 minutes:

  • If the person’s condition declines or fails to improve within 10 minutes, call 911 and provide more sugar if it is still safe to do so
  • If the person’s condition improves, suggest that they have a full meal and contact their doctor if needed

Some people with diabetes may have a prescribed glucagon (similar to insulin) kit to use in case of an hypoglycemic emergency.

Glucagon is a hormone that prompts the liver to dispense glucose into the bloodstream. The glucagon kit is only used when the person is unresponsive, or is unable to swallow.

Only those who have been properly trained to use glucagon kit may administer this medication. For someone who has diabetes, they will often reach out to those who they spend frequent time with (co-workers, fellow students, teachers, coaches, family members, close friends) to ask if they may receive training to learn how to administer a glucagon injection.

If you know someone who has diabetes, ask them about it, and see how often they have had diabetic emergencies. If you spend a reasonable amount of time with this person, have your surroundings prepared such as:

  • Soft area to lie down (blanket or pillow)
  • Have dispensary sugar or oral glucose tablets on hand
  • A charged phone to be able to call 911 if needed
  • Knowing where the person with diabetes carries their insulin or glucagon kit

At Coast2Coast First Aid, we provide training to know about diabetes and how to help those in diabetic emergencies through our Emergency and Standard First Aid courses. You will learn hands-on what to do in various situations, as well as how to implement insulin or glucose tablets. With over a third of our population carrying some form of diabetes, we need to be ready for any situation, which you can do by registering for Coast2Coast First Aid today!

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The Need to Know’s of an Emergency Medical Responder Course

A person wearing blue gloves performs CPR chest compressions on another individual lying on the ground. A second person assists with a bag-valve mask in the background, providing ventilation. Both wear red uniforms, indicating emergency medical services.

We will give you the Who, What, Where, Why and How’s of our Emergency Medical Responder course at Coast2Coast!

What

The Emergency Medical Responder course is an 8 day, 80 hour program which provides the necessary skills and knowledge to help preserve lives, reduce pain, and diminish the consequences of injuries and sudden illnesses for those who are a part of a medical healthcare provider in a pre-hospital setting.  

The first part of the course is about Preparing to Respond: the program goes through the responder, the emergency scene (location, victims, bystanders, injuries) and how to prevent disease transmission at the scene and in the ambulance.

Part Two of the course is about Establishing Priorities of Care. It goes through the human body anatomy and physiology, as well as an assessment of the current situation of the victim. This part goes through the main medical emergencies that responders are accustomed to, such as respiratory and circulatory emergencies, airway and ventilation problems, bleeding, shock, as well as pharmacology to understand medications that the victim may be on or may need.

Our third part of the course goes through the process of identifying and helping those with Traumatic Injuries. This includes but is not limited to soft tissue, musculoskeletal, head and spine, chest, abdominal, and pelvic injuries

Part Four goes through non-injury Medical Emergencies, which includes how to help those with sudden illnesses, poison ingestion, and temperature related emergencies (heat and frozen)

The fifth and last portion of the course is handling Special Populations and Situations. Topics will be centered around special populations and crisis intervention, with events such as childbirth, reaching and moving patients from the area, multiple casualty and victim incidents, and transportation and workplace situations.

Who

Many of our course participants go on to be fire-fighters, law-enforcement officers, and become a part of an emergency medical services personnel.

One must have a Standard First Aid and CPR/AED Level C to be able to take the course. Anyone who completes the Standard First Aid course can enroll in the Emergency Medical Responder course!

Why

The world we live in today is full of danger and unexpected circumstances that require many first responders and emergency medical responders to aid victims of such tragic incidents.

Obtaining the Emergency Medical Responder certificate proves to the community that you are ready to help anyone in need if a medical emergency were to happen, and that you care about the well-being and safety of your city or town!

Logo for Coast2Coast First Aid & Aquatics Inc. featuring a stylized wave in red and blue, with black circular shapes. Company name written below in blue text.

Where

Coast2Coast offers the Emergency Medical Responder course at 4 of our locations:

North York – #216, 180 Steeles Ave. W, Thornhill, Ontario

Toronto – 635A Bloor St. W, Toronto, Ontario

Markham – #2, 1080 Tapscott Rd, Markham, Ontario

Brampton – 83 Kennedy Rd. S, Brampton, Ontario

Hamilton (Stoney Creek) – #104, 43 Keefer Court, Hamilton, Ontario

London – #304A, 717 Richmond St, London, Ontario

How

There are two ways to register for our Emergency Medical Responder course:

Call our toll-free phone number at 1-866-291-9121 to speak with one of our representatives to register you over the phone.

Go to our registration page here and click one of the previous locations stated above to register for a course. We offer the course once a month in each location.

Start saving lives by registering with Coast2Coast First Aid today!

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What To Do If Your Pets are not Breathing?

Every public institution you send your child to, whether it is a school, after-school program, club sport, religious centre, or daycare; you want to know that they are safe at all times. With the recent story of a young boy choking to death in a mosque in England, it has many of us worried that not everyone who is looking after our children are CPR/AED or First Aid trained.

There were several reasons why this result ended morbidly, which included not knowing how to use a defibrillator, or the location of one, volunteers and staff not being trained in emergency first aid, but most of all, not knowing how to respond to infants and children in choking and breathing emergencies.

These stories are somber to read, but they must be reminders for those working with children to be updated in their CPR and first-aid knowledge, as well as being aware of the defibrillator locations in all facilities.

Although child care workers are required to have CPR and First-Aid training, there are many establishments we send our children to where volunteers and staff do not have the requirements to be first aid certified. Your child’s safety is the number one priority; it is up to you to make sure that whoever is in care of your son, daughter, or relative is certified in the appropriate way.

People in a first aid class practicing CPR on a dummy with an automated external defibrillator (AED) nearby. Participants are seated on the floor, focusing on the training session.

 

The first action is to know the whereabouts of the facilities’ defibrillator, or commonly known as an AED. The device is used to deliver electrical currents through the heart, via the defibrillation pads attached to the machine. Survival rates go from 5% with only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to 75% with an automatic external defibrillator.

To learn more about what defib’s are, check out our blog post where we explain how to use one and where they are usually located.It is essential to be comfortable using a defibrillator in an emergency. In all our First-Aid and CPR courses at Coast2Coast, we provide the knowledge and practice of how to use a AED on infants, children, and adults (depending on your level of choice).

For most public centres, the AED would be located in the front foyer or staff room. When touring a new place, such as a church or sports facility, it is important to find out where the facility AED is located, and which staff members and volunteers know of its location, and how to use it.

Along with knowing about the facility’s AED location, it is also beneficial to find out how many first-aid kits are in the building, and where exactly they are located. Let your child know in what rooms or who has them, as he or she might be in a scenario where it is up to them to find one if there is no other supervisor around.

 

A man is assisting a child by wrapping a bandage around the child's knee. They are sitting on a wooden bench in a sunny outdoor setting, surrounded by grass and trees. The man is wearing a white shirt and blue shorts, and the child is in a green shirt.

As well as being trained in AED use, all staff workers and volunteers with children should be trained in Emergency First-Aid (EFA). Coast2Coast offers the EFA in a one day course that covers skills such as CPR, wound care, and emergency situations. We also offer our EFA course in an online blended curriculum, which allows the participant to study theory at home, and practice the skills in class for half the day.

Emergency first-aid covers many situations that your child may face, such as heat exhaustion, burns, choking, and intense bleeding. As well as your child’s caretaker, it is invaluable as a parent or guardian to obtain first aid training as well. Moreover, it gives you some skills that might be useful to save your pet’s life.

Last but not least, those in care of children should be fully educated in reacting and saving a child or infant from choking or breathing emergencies. Like many cases such as the young boy at the beginning of this blog, they rely on adults to help them when they are in pain and danger.

If a child does begin to choke, begin CPR immediately with thirty compressions, checking the airway, and repeating for two minutes. If you are the only person around, call 911. If there is a child or adult around, have them call 911 and find the AED while you are with the child in need.

 

A man in red demonstrates a hand signal, standing near a woman on the phone, in front of a CPR instruction board. A CPR dummy is on the table. The board lists CPR steps and the compression-to-breath ratio, "30:2.

For children and infants, chest compressions are performed differently, as they only need two fingers (infants), or pressing down two inches (child). Make sure the neck is not tilted back too far for babies, as you do not want to cause head or neck injury as well. Continue doing compressions and checking for breathing until emergency medical responders come. When checking for breathing, and if no air is being released, put your mouth over the nose and mouth (infant) or cover the mouth with your mouth and hold the nose (child) to do rescue breathing.

These methods can be properly taught through our CPR/AED courses, especially in our level C course, where we show the exact techniques one must do for a baby or kid that is choking. Our classes go through step-by-step instructions and show the exact techniques for every situation possible.

Our kids are our most precious treasures, and we want them to feel safe and protected at all times. With their teachers, caregivers, youth group leaders, and any other worker or volunteer that is under their care, we hope that in any emergency situation they can preserve life and not cause a fatality because of their ignorance to first aid and CPR training.

With the school year coming up, youngsters all around will begin new activities and sports for enrichment purposes. Talk about first-aid and CPR experience when registering your child, and know that Coast2Coast First Aid is here for all your training needs!

 

 

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What is an AED and where can you find it?

A group of people participate in a first aid training session. A woman demonstrates CPR on a baby mannequin while others observe and practice. The Coast2Coast and Canadian Red Cross logos are visible, along with contact information for registration.

You are in a scenario where you see someone grab their chest, lose all colour in their face, and suddenly drop to the ground, unconscious while displaying no movement or breathing. The signs resemble of someone suffering from a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). You know CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), but where is the closest defibrillator?

Decreasing the time it takes to locate an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is essential to the little time you have to save one’s life. If an AED is used on a sudden cardiac arrest victim within the first minute of collapse, their probability of survival is 90%. For every minute that passes, their likelihood of survival drops 10%, leaving a 10 minute ‘window of opportunity.’

Where is your nearest DEFIB (AED)?

Not every defibrillator has their location registered. The location varies in every town, but defib’s are universally located in large public places, such as:

  • Hospitals – Hospital wings, or at the closest nursing station
  • Community Centres – Foyer (front entrance)
  • Schools – Front office or staff room
  • Business Centres – Ground level, next to the evacuation/escape plan
  • Golf, Football, Soccer, Swimming, Hockey and Cricket Clubs  – Function rooms
  • Gymnasiums – Hinged and signed on the walls near gym equipment. Try the wall closest to the treadmills or cardio equipment
  • Shopping Malls/Centres – Guest services and public washrooms
  • Public Libraries – Foyer (front entrance)
  • Zoo’s – Front office and staff room.

What you MUST know before using an AED (Automated External Defibrillator)?

Before using an AED, understanding its proper usage is crucial. The following YouTube short guides you through essential tips every potential responder should have to help someone with an AED. These seven tips will help you remember the right ways to operate a defirillator in a cardiac arrest emergency. Whether you’re at home, work, or in public spaces, being prepared can make all the difference. Watch now to learn how to confidently and effectively use an AED in critical moments.

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How does a Defib work?

Defibrillation operates by delivering an electrical current through the heart muscle, via the defibrillation pads. All electrical activity in the heart becomes pulseless, in the belief that when the pulse returns,  it will be in a rhythm that is coordinated with an effective pumping motion.

Survival rates are the highest when defibrillation is given within the first few minutes of the time of the collapse. Greater defibrillator availability and recognition of device locations will increase the survival rates of sudden cardiac arrests victims. Coast2Coast offers CPR/AED courses that properly educate how to administer a defibrillator, and how to recognize and respond to those in a cardiovascular emergency.  

How to perform a primary survey and what is DRSABCD?

Primary survey is the first thing that should be done when observing and helping a victim in need. The abbreviation DRSABCD is the acronym check-list we ask bystanders to use to in the process of saving lives.

D = Danger. Check for danger before approaching the victim. Whereabouts to check for may include live wires, exposed needles, or flammable liquids. Your safety ALWAYS comes first.

R = Response. Attempt to get a response from the victim by asking them to say their name or squeeze your hand.

S = Send for Help. If there is no response, now is the time to call 911. If there are other people present at the scene, send someone to locate the nearest defibrillator.

A = Airway. Is the airway clear? Check to make sure the victim has nothing in their mouth, such as broken teeth, food or vomit.

B = Breathing. Once a clear airway is established, check to see if the victim is breathing.

C = Compressions. Commence chest compressions at a rate of 30 compressions to 2 breaths. You should be pushing at the depth of 1/3 of the victim’s chest, and at a rate of 100 chest compressions per minute (this will be interrupted by administering their breathing). Coast2Coast teaches you the proper method of compressions and how not to over-exert yourself of energy.

D = Defibrillator. Apply the defibrillator following the voice prompts. If emergency medical staff are there applying the AED, follow their instructions.

It is never too late to learn CPR and how to accurately use a defibrillator; contact Coast2Coast to find out more about our CPR/AED courses and becoming a lifesaver today!

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The Importance of First Aid This Summer

A person in a wetsuit performs CPR on another person lying on a rocky beach. The backdrop features a serene view of the ocean and trees. The image includes contact details for Coast2Coast First Aid & Aquatics, a Canadian Red Cross Training Partner.

If one thing’s sure enough, it’s this: Toronto will be absolutely hot throughout the summer. In response, many folks within the region head for the water on the weekends and holidays. Whether it’s in the form of a backyard or community pool, a beach, getting wet is that the best way to remain cool throughout the scorching summer months. However, along with all of the fun of swimming comes several dangers. In fact, drowning number one cause of accidental death for Torontonians kids aged zero to five years. These serious statistics highlight the importance of being as safe as possible when by the water this summer – and could be a reminder of the advantages of taking swimming lessons, as well.

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How Knowing CPR Can Save Lives?

People are practicing CPR on mannequins during a training session. A person in a bright vest is performing chest compressions on a dummy in the foreground, with others doing the same in the background. There are onlookers watching the demonstration.

 More than 300 thousand people die because of cardiac arrest every year. The risk of heart diseases is higher in senior citizens. 70% of adults above the age of 60 have some kind of cardiac problem. There are different types of health issues that can be the cause of cardiac arrest. There are also other social factors that can lead to this situation of life or death. If people are properly trained, knowing CPR can help save lives. Trained individuals would be ready to take immediate action when required. Coast2coast First Aid & Aquatics offers all the necessary First Aid & CPR Courses in Toronto. Here are some reasons why knowing CPR can be helpful.

CPR can help save lives

               A person’s brain and organs can die within minutes when the cardiac arrest occurs. Once the heart stops pumping the blood, brain death will only take 4 to 6 minutes. Taking quick action, performing CPR on the person suffering from cardiac arrest can help to pump blood in the body. It might take professionals sometime to arrive at the scene. If you will perform CPR immediately, organs of the body including brain will get oxygen and so survival, chances will increase. The chances of survival will be doubled if you will perform CPR within 2 minutes of cardiac arrest.

CPR training is beneficial for everyone

                   More than 90% of the people who die every year due to cardiac arrest do not get immediate help. We at our Toronto First Aid & CPR training facility help you learn all the right skills. The survival chances could be improved if everyone knew how to perform CPR. Even in the younger individuals risk of cardiac arrest has increased because of a sedentary lifestyle and poor dietary habits. People of all age groups should have complete CPR training.

Your family or friends may need it

                    While getting CPR training you might be thinking about how you can help a stranger. However, someone in your family or workplace can be saved from sudden cardiac arrest because you performed CPR immediately. In 70% of cases, cardiac arrest happens at and people often do not get the chance to reach the hospital. You will be grateful for the skills that you have if the need arises. It will allow you to save the life of someone you love. In the case, you have taken a First Aid & CPR Course before, you could Recertify at one of our Downtown Toronto First Aid and CPR Recertification courses.

It can happen to anyone

              Most of the time cardiac arrest do not happen to people who are suffering from chronic heart or health condition. Traumatic accidents, choking, electric shock and drowning can be the cause of cardiac arrest. When taking one of our First Aid & CPR courses in downtown Toronto, you will be aware of all the situation where you need to be alert. There are some health conditions that can lead to cardiac arrest like.
1. Infections
2. Heart disease
3. Diabetes
4. Allergic reactions
5. Sudden cardiac arrest because of stress or depression.

Do not shy away

You might not feel confident when someone needs CPR. When you take your CPR training at Coast2coast First Aid & Aquatics your confidence level will increase and that will help you to make the right decision and save someone’s life.

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Significance Of Taking Emergency CPR Course For Safety At Work

Construction workers in orange safety gear participate in a first aid training session. One worker demonstrates a technique on a colleague lying on a blue mat, while others observe. The setting is an indoor area with large windows and a corrugated metal roof.

 

Most of us don’t think of danger too often in our daily lives. We do follow rules of conduct at work, at home, and on the street. But what if any one of those rules fails and someone gets hurt?   A child may fall into a swimming pool. Or reach up to a high shelf and fall down. A coworker may get crushed by heavy machinery. Or, as simple as that, a person may just have a stroke and drop unconscious as you stand.   The list goes on and on.   The question is, what do you do when and if this happens. And if you are an employer with a staff several people, another question is how much is it going to cost you when someone dies or gets severely injured on the job. Here are the four main reasons why getting your employees into a CPR course Toronto is a good idea:

  • Safety at Work.

As simple as that. Yes, most workplaces have WHMIS or Health and Safety instruction sessions at work, but knowing CPR makes people all the more aware of the dangers. Whether it’s chemicals, machinery, or other hazards, a Health and Safety course can only go so far to prevent danger. If an employee learns about a life or death situation, CPR emergencies and how to respond to it, however, they actually, really-truly consider their actions.

  • Company Morale

If you run a search, you’ll find there are enough group/workplace CPR courses more or less anywhere in the GTA and when employees get sent to a Toronto CPR course by their employer, they bond. Trust is established. This unique feeling of mutual support is not something any other course can achieve. Knowing people are now trained and equipped to take care of each other not just in routine tasks, but in dire need, makes the entire team stronger.

  • Industry Tailored

When you direct your people to separate Toronto CPR courses of their choice, they get general skills. Those skills are unarguably valuable but what they are not is industry specific. If you get a group course, you get a program that covers all the bases, while focusing on the specific types of disaster that may happen in your industry.

  • Cost Effectiveness

The cost of workplace injury when it eventually occurs can range from considerable to enormous. Spending a little to avoid spending a lot is simply good business.   Get your team onboard with a workplace CPR course Toronto, and you will see how far reaching and beneficial the results can be.

Register for CPR or First Aid Training

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