Frontenac Neighbours Saving Neighbours cardiac arrest response

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.

FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES, QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY - As an ER physician and scientist, Dr. Steven Brooks (Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine) knows that every second counts when trying to save someone’s life—especially during a cardiac event. His research examines what happens in an emergency before someone reaches the hospital, and how to improve the odds of survival so it’s not largely based on luck. Watch his talk on how “Only the lucky survive cardiac arrest.”

HEARTANDSTROKE.CA - It’s dramatic, scary and unexpected. When Philip’s heart stopped at a hockey tournament, his teammates rallied to save his life, with the help of an automated external defibrillator (AED).