Heart skills drive in Shocktober

Hato Hone St John is embarking on a nationwide mission to empower 10,000 people with essential lifesaving skills.

As part the organisation’s annual Shocktober campaign, more than 20 New Zealand communities will host 3 Steps for Life training sessions.

Dubbed the Heartbeat Highway tour, the campaign will have a particular focus on equipping people in rural and isolated communities with lifesaving skills such as calling 111, how to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

Jacci Tatnell, Hato Hone St John head of community education, said Shocktober aimed to tackle one of the leading causes of death in New Zealand: cardiac arrest.

“Every day, six people experience cardiac arrest outside hospital care but, sadly, only about one in 10 will survive.”

While the statistics are alarming, Ms Tatnell said survival rates can more than double with help from bystanders.

“For every minute without CPR or defibrillation, a patient’s chance of survival falls by 10 to 15 per cent.

“Simply put, if more people have the confidence and skills to perform CPR and use an AED, more lives will be saved.”

Ms Tatnell is encouraging as many New Zealanders as possible to sign up for a free 3 Steps for Life session near them.

“Whether you’re in Hokitika, Tauranga or Timaru, we’ll be hosting dozens of events — large and small — so gather your friends, whanau or colleagues and join us on our lifesaving mission.”

Coinciding with the midpoint of this year’s Shocktober campaign is World Restart a Heart Day on October 16.

Hato Hone St John will be marking the occasion by hosting New Zealand’s highest ever 3 Steps for Life course.

People trained in the 3 Steps for Life are also encouraged to download the GoodSAM app, which notifies users when a patient nearby is experiencing a cardiac arrest, so the app user can administer help.

More than 12,000 trained volunteers have signed up to the app, with GoodSAM responders attending about 10 per cent of cardiac arrests in New Zealand.