Frontenac Neighbours Saving Neighbours cardiac arrest response

The Neighbours Saving Neighbours (NSN) volunteer responder program for cardiac arrest went live in Frontenac on September 1. It's the program that puts automated external defibrillators into the trained hands of volunteer responders who may be able to begin life-saving treatment in the event of a cardiac arrest emergency in the precious moments before paramedics arrive. It couldn't have happened without cooperation and collaboration among a large group of partners, participants, organizations, and volunteers.

Dr. Steven Brooks is the NSN lead clinician/scientist in the School of Health Sciences at Queen's University.

Michelle Menard is the Quality Programs Officer and Peer Support Team Coordinator at the Kingston Central Ambulance Communications Centre.

Gale Chevalier is Chief of Frontenac Paramedics.

Neighbours Saving Neighbours volunteer responders are trained in CPR and the safe use of an automated external defibrillator by Frontenac Paramedics. While there's no substitute for expert training and preparation, any CPR may be better than nothing during a real out-of-hospital cardiac arrest emergency. These two videos, produced by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and the Ambulance Victoria from Australia are great ways to brush-up on your lapsed CPR training or, if you've never been trained, to get some of the basics in case you should ever need them. The American Heart Association also offers a similar training page with video.

FRONTENAC COUNTY - The Neighbours Saving Neighbours (NSN) volunteer responder system for cardiac arrest goes live at 8 am on Friday, September 1.

NSN is the pilot program and research project that puts automated external defibrillators (AEDs) into the trained hands of volunteer citizen responders across rural areas of Frontenac County. When the system goes live for the first time on Friday, more than 60 trained volunteer responders across Frontenac become available to attend and begin CPR and AED treatment in the event of nearby possible cardiac arrest emergencies.

“I’m delighted to launch the NSN program,” says Dr. Steven Brooks, NSN lead, Clinician-Scientist, and Emergency Physician in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Queen’s. “Getting here would not be possible without the participation and support of our many partners, especially the first cohorts of NSN volunteer responders. I want to thank everyone for their participation and support so far. Your contributions help us to learn more about volunteer response and could even save lives.”

Here’s how NSN works: When Frontenac Paramedics are dispatched to a possible cardiac arrest emergency by Kingston Central Frontenac Communications Centre (CACC) Communications Officers, any nearby NSN volunteer responders are simultaneously notified through the GoodSAM smartphone app. If NSN responders happen to arrive on-scene before paramedics do, NSN responders can begin CPR and AED treatment in the crucial moments before paramedics can take over.

“It can take a few minutes for paramedics to arrive on-scene at an emergency, especially when we need to cover long distances to get there,” says Jason Kervin, Advanced Care Paramedic with Frontenac Paramedics. “That’s time cardiac arrest patients often just don’t have. Volunteer responders can make the difference between life and death for their friends, family, and neighbours who experience cardiac arrest.”

Learn more about Neighbours Saving Neighbours and to apply to become a volunteer responder.
Watch video of Dr. Brooks’ recent Cinq à Sept Research Talk hosted by the Faculty of Health Sciences at Queen’s University.
Learn more about Dr. Steven Brooks.

Reporter Kelli McRobert has gone through the process of becoming a Community Responder with the “Neighbours Saving Neighbours pilot program, and she has prepared a primer for he benefit of readers who are interested in joining the program

HealthyDebate.ca — By Dr. Steven Brooks — Surviving sudden cardiac arrest depends largely on luck – and it shouldn’t be this way. When cardiac arrest happens, every second counts. There are three things that need to be done as soon as possible to maximize chances of survival – calling 9-1-1, starting cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and using an automated external defibrillator (AED). CPR keeps blood flowing to vital organs while AEDs provide a small electrical shock to get the heart pumping again.

CKWS Global News Kingston - Frontenac County is looking for volunteers to receive training that could save their neighbours’ lives.The program is designed to crowdsource first-response aid help people having an emergency. For someone having a heart attack just a few minutes could mean the difference between life and death.

QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY GAZETTE - Each year, 35,000 Canadians experience cardiac arrests – their hearts stop beating unexpectedly. When this happens outside of the hospital, up to 90 per cent of patients die. However, chances of survival are much better with immediate treatment, like cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or defibrillation.

CBC RADIO OTTAWA, ALL IN A DAY - Dr. Steven Brooks tells us about the Neighbours saving Neighbours program -- and why it wants to train volunteer residents of Frontenac country to respond to cardiac arrest calls before a paramedic arrives.

KINGSTONIST - A new innovative program aims to improve emergency response times for cardiac events throughout Frontenac County with the help of volunteer responders. Researchers from Queen’s University have partnered with Frontenac Paramedics to create the Neighbours saving Neighbours program for cardiac arrest.