OTTAWA, April 11, 2017 /CNW/ - For the first time, Scouts Canada is partnering with the Canadian Red Cross to offer free introductory first aid training to Canadian youth between the ages nine to 16. Training sessions take place in Halifax, Ottawa, Mississauga and Vancouver to kick off Scouts Canada's eighth annual Good Turn Week, taking place April 29 – May 7, 2017. The first aid sessions are among more than 30 major community projects Scouts Canada is launching to bring the spirit of Good Turn Week to communities from coast to coast.
"Safety leadership is a top priority for Scouts Canada," said Caitlyn Piton, Scouts Canada's National Youth Commissioner and Chair of the National Youth Network. "First aid and CPR training are some of the most important life skills that everyone should have and through this partnership with the Canadian Red Cross, we are able to offer more Canadian youth the confidence and essential lifesaving skills to assist someone in need, and possibly save a life."
"We are honoured to partner with Scouts Canada to help deliver first aid training to more youth across the country this Good Turn Week," said Rick Caissie, Vice President, Prevention & Safety, Canadian Red Cross. "With the skills learned in these sessions, participants will be better equipped to act as needed in emergency situations to protect and promote the health and safety of their friends, family and community."
According to a recent survey conducted by Ipsos on behalf of the Canadian Red Cross, not all Canadian households are adequately prepared with first aid training in the event of an emergency. The survey found:
Four first aid training sessions will be offered in each city, beginning at 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. daily on Saturday, April 29 and Sunday, April 30. The courses will explore prevention and response training, focusing on increasing the confidence of youth and inspiring action when they are presented with an emergency situation and the opportunity to help someone in need. Participants will learn how to prevent injury, assess an emergency, respond in a first aid or emergency situation while keeping themselves safe and compression only CPR.
Youth do not need to be Members of Scouts Canada to participate. Advance registration is required and available spots are first come, first served. To register, visit: http://scoutscanadaredcross.eventbrite.com/
About Good Turn Week
Good Turn Week (April 29 – May 7, 2017) is a youth-led initiative that asks all Canadians to consider the power of a simple good turn. Participating in Good Turn Week is not just for Scouts and it's easy to do. Simply perform a good turn for someone else and encourage the recipient to pay it forward, creating a cycle of goodwill. A good turn can be as simple as giving up a seat on public transit or buying a meal for a homeless person, or as ambitious as organizing a fundraiser to support a family that is down on their luck. Canadians can share their Good Turns at Scouts.ca/goodturnweek, or on social media by using #GoodTurnWeek and tagging @ScoutsCanada.
About Scouts Canada
Kids in Scouts have fun adventures, discovering new things and experiences they wouldn't discover elsewhere. Along the way, they develop into capable, confident and well-rounded individuals, better prepared for success in the world. For tens of thousands of children and youth across Canada, Scouts is the start of something great. Scouts Canada is the country's leading co-ed youth organization, offering programming for children and youth aged 5-26 in multiple languages, reflecting Canada's multicultural landscape and communities. For more information, visit Scouts.ca.
Scouts Canada is a not-for-profit organization (Charitable Registration No. 10776 1694 RR0028) and a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.
About the Canadian Red Cross
As the leading provider of prevention and safety training in the country, the Canadian Red Cross trains 2.4 million Canadians annually in first aid, swimming and violence and abuse prevention. Visit www.redcross.ca for research and tips, and to learn more about CPR, first aid and violence prevention training, and swimming and water safety courses.
SOURCE Scouts Canada
Andrea McLoughlin, Holmes PR, [email protected], 416-628-5609; Kelly Price, Holmes PR, [email protected], 416-628-5613
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