Hato Hone St John's Shocktober is here
Hato Hone St John media release: 1st October 2024
October is now dubbed Shocktober for the third year running and Hato Hone St John (HHStJ) is on a mission to empower as many people as possible with lifesaving skills as part of its Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) awareness month.
This October we've dedicated the entire month to educate as many kiwis as possible across the motu how to respond to someone having a cardiac arrest.
National Manager – Community Education Jacci Tatnell says Aotearoa has some of the worst cardiac arrest survival rates in the world and Hato Hone St John wants to turn that around by enabling New Zealanders to learn its 3 Steps for Life skills to save lives.
"Knowing what to do in these situations is a necessity, especially when you consider our grim statistics. In New Zealand, seven people every day will have an out of hospital cardiac arrest with only 11 percent surviving,” she says.
“During Shocktober HHStJ will be teaching as many kiwis as possible the 3 Steps for Life to empower them with the knowledge and confidence to act quickly in an emergency. Our sessions teach everyone how to perform CPR and use an AED".
The 3 Steps for Life are simple to learn:
- Call 111.
- Start CPR.
- Use an Automated External Defribrillator (AED).
“Cardiac arrest is still one of Aotearoa’s biggest killers. Survival chances dramatically improve the sooner CPR begins, and we want everyone to have the confidence to perform the three steps that can double a person’s chance of surviving,”
“We’re calling for people to go along to the FREE 3 Steps for Life CPR training sessions in their community."
Find Shocktober training session locations, dates and times near you.
Hato Hone St John also encourage kiwis to download the CPR app or join a network of volunteers by registering on the GoodSAM* app to help those suffering a cardiac arrest – because every second counts.
Join Hato Hone St John this Shocktober and begin the journey to become a nation of lifesavers.
How you can help
- Visit the *GoodSAM website to register as a responder or download the GoodSAM app from the app store. TheGoodSAMnetwork of trained volunteers give life support to people in cardiac arrest while help is on the way - including doctors, nurses, paramedics and registered first aiders. GoodSAM is a free app that alerts trained volunteers that aperson nearby could be in cardiac arrest, allowing them to provide basic life support and first aid prior to emergency services arriving.
- Download the Hato Hone St John CPR app. This gives you instructions on how to perform CPR and use an AED (including videos), as well as a timer to help with steady chest compressions.
- Download the AED Locations app to find the nearest AED in your area.