'CPR Makes you Undead!' Heart and Stroke Foundation kicks off second annual CPR awareness campaign with Halloween-themed events across the country.

Anyone can suffer cardiac arrest, so everyone should learn CPR. This Halloween, learn the 3 simple steps to saving a life.

TORONTO, Oct. 16, 2013 /CNW/ - November is CPR month, and building on last year's success of its CPR Makes You Undead campaign, the Heart and Stroke Foundation (HSF) is launching its second annual campaign (www.cprundead.ca) to raise awareness of the importance of learning CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) to save lives.

"Tongue-in-cheek Halloween and Zombie-themed events targeting young people across Canada will once again reinforce the message that 'CPR makes you undead,' " said Mark Holland, the Foundation's Director, Children and Youth. "When a person experiences cardiac arrest and their heart stops beating, they are technically dead until they're revived. Quick action is critical. That is why it is crucial to learn Hands-Only™ CPR - and why we are encouraging everyone to take advantage of CPR training opportunities this November to learn this life-saving skill. "

As many as 40,000 cardiac arrests occur in Canada each year, and up to 85 per cent of these happen in public areas or homes. The survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests is still abysmally low at about 5 per cent. Research shows that key barriers stopping people from performing CPR are lack of CPR training, fear of harming the victim, and failure to understand the consequences of not doing CPR.

Campaign launch events:

In Ontario, the CPR campaign launches with the Toronto Zombie Walk & Halloween Parade on October 26 beginning at 3 p.m. at Nathan Phillips Square (www.torontozombiewalk.ca). Thousands are expected to participate, and the Foundation will have CPR demonstrations and fun Halloween themed material available for the public. On October 19, HSF is also participating in the London Zombie Walk and the Elgin Walk for the Undead to raise awareness about the 3 simple steps to CPR.

In Nova Scotia, HSF partnered with Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) in Halifax to bring the CPR makes you undead campaign to life, promoting CPR awareness MSVU's Haunted House on October 26^th from 7-11 p.m. Free mass CPR training will also be held on campus November 6^th at 6 p.m.

In Quebec, CPR Month will kick off with mass CPR trainings on October 19 from 12 to 3 p.m., where free 10 minute sessions of CPR training will be given to the zombies at the Place des Festivals, right before the Montreal Zombie Walk departure (http://montrealzombiewalk.com/en/).

In Newfoundland and Labrador, the HSF is bringing the zombie theme to Queen Elizabeth High School to train over 100 students in life-saving CPR skills on Halloween (October 31).

In Alberta, HSF promoted CPR awareness at the Edmonton Zombie Walk on Oct 4th.

In New Brunswick, HSF promoted CPR Makes You Undead at the Saint John Zombie Walk where over 100 people learned the 3 steps simple steps to Hands-Only™ CPR. CPR training in local high schools will also take place during the month of November.

In Saskatchewan, HSF attended the Saskatoon Zombie Walk to promote CPR as well as screen the film Undeading at the Dark Bridges Film Festival. Over 100 people learned the 3 simple steps to Hands-Only™ CPR.

To find public CPR training opportunities in your region and to learn more, go to www.CPRundead.ca.

About the Heart and Stroke Foundation
The Heart and Stroke Foundation's mission is to prevent disease, save lives and promote recovery. A volunteer-based health charity, we strive to tangibly improve the health of every Canadian family, every day. 'Healthy lives free of heart disease and stroke. Together we will make it happen'. Heartandstroke.ca

Image with caption: "CPR Makes you Undead! (CNW Group/Heart and Stroke Foundation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131016_C4270_PHOTO_EN_32099.jpg

SOURCE: Heart and Stroke Foundation

Media Contacts:

Alberta: Holly Roy
[email protected]
[phone]

Ontario: Alexandra Maheux
[email protected]
[phone] x789

Newfoundland and Labrador: Sharon Hollingsworth
[email protected]
[phone]

Nova Scotia: Victoria Boutilier
[email protected]

New Brunswick: Darcy Leblanc
[email protected]
[phone]

Quebec: Maryse Bégin
[email protected]
[phone] x232

Saskatchewan: Dan McGeady
[email protected]
[phone]