December 8, 1998
To:Emergency and Protective Services Committee
From:Barry Gutteridge
Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services
Subject:Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid Training Contract
Purpose:
To seek the approval of Council to enter into a contract with the Toronto District School
Board for the provision of First Aid/CPR programs. This report also identifies the community
benefits of providing First Aid/CPR programs to the students and staff within the Toronto
District School Board.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
This initiative is intended to be revenue-neutral to marginally revenue-positive. Fees for
courses will be paid on a per-student basis, and there will be full cost recovery of all program
expenses. It is estimated that the net revenues arising from the program may amount to
approximately $45,000.00 This will be paid to the City of Toronto.
Recommendations:
"It is recommended that:
- Toronto Council give approval for Toronto Ambulance to enter into a contract with the
Toronto District School Board for the purposes of providing training in Emergency First
Aid, Standard First Aid, CPR and Safety related training programs; and
- Toronto Council endorse Toronto Ambulance's pursuit of other First Aid/CPR revenue
generating opportunities; and
- Toronto Council endorse Toronto Ambulance's promotion of public awareness and
training in First Aid and CPR; and
- the appropriate City officials be be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to
give effect thereto."
Background:
In 1988, Toronto Ambulance established the Corporate Safety First Aid and CPR training
group. The mandate of this unit is to deliver First Aid/CPR programs to employees of
Toronto, and its Agencies, Boards Commissions and Departments. This group was, and
continues to be, staffed with permanently partially disabled paramedics, individuals who have
suffered work related injuries and are unable to continue with their pre-injury roles.
Over the years the expertise of the unit and the reputation of each of its programs has become
very well known, both within Toronto and to a number of outside organizations. Many
agencies continue to solicit the services of the Safety First Aid and CPR group in order to
provide their Workplace Safety and First Aid/CPR programs. Organizations for whom
programs have been delivered include the City of North York, the North York Board of
Education, the Ontario Association of Hostels and De Havilland.
The Toronto Safety First Aid and Training program has been recognized by the Workplace
Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), as being able to provide the equivalent of the First Aid
requirements legislated under Regulation 1101. As well, CPR training meets all of the
standards and guidelines set out by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario.
Although the program is mainly delivered on a cost-recovery basis, overall benefits are
recognized through contribution to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) public awareness and,
by extension, through contribution to increased citizen survival from cardiac arrest.
Potential for additional revenues exist through the establishment of organizational instructor
pools and by the sale of First Aid/CPR course books and materials.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
Toronto Ambulance has promoted a number of public awareness, safety and first aid and
health awareness programs within the community. Recently Council recommended that
Toronto become a "Cardiac Safe City", through the promotion of CPR and Public Access
Defibrillation training. A recent review of statistics from the Toronto Ambulance database
indicates that in order to positively influence survival from cardiac arrest - and to become a
Cardiac Safe City - greater public awareness, education and involvement is required. One of
the ways of meeting this need is through the provision of training and public awareness
programs to the youth in our school systems. In many parts of Canada and the United States
this type of training is a standard part of school curriculum, and helps ingrain the need for
vigilance and responsiveness in the face of unexpected medical emergencies. Truly, the
overall effectiveness of the health cares system begins at the first responder level, and early
training helps foster that practice.
Toronto Ambulance has supported the Acute Coronary Treatment (ACT) Foundation in its
efforts to make CPR training a mandatory component of grade nine curriculum in all schools.
The Toronto District School Board has made a request for proposals for such training. The
opportunity to participate in this contract will allow Toronto Ambulance to enhance its
commitment to the City of Toronto's goal of becoming a" Cardiac Safe City".
In order to support the school board in this initiative, instructors from the Toronto Safety First
Aid and CPR program will be utilized. Once programs are established, instructors will be
identified from within the school board itself, and they in turn will be able to continue training
staff and students.
Initial training will include 1800 participants for Emergency First Aid and CPR, 600
participants for Standard First Aid and CPR, and 200 participants for CPR alone. The contract
for training represents an amount of $ 78,000.00. The cost to Toronto Ambulance to provide
the training - inclusive of instructor wages and course materials - will be approximately $33,
500.00 dollars, leaving a net profit of approximately $45,000.00.
Conclusions:
Toronto Ambulance's participation in first aid and CPR training in schools will further
contribute to Toronto's commitment to being a "Cardiac Safe City". This along with other
initiatives, such as Public Access Defibrillation, will help the public better appreciate the
important role they can play within the Emergency Medical Services system in Toronto. This
strengthening of the first link in the 'chain of survival' will enhance the medical chances of
those citizens who suffer from an unexpected cardiac illness or, worse, a cardiac arrest.
Through opportunities such as the contract with the Toronto District School Board, Toronto
Ambulance can ensure appropriate training is provided, and that activities related to public
awareness are optimized.
Contact Name:
Norm Lambert, Manager, EMS Education and Development Unit
Phone: 392-2061 Fax: 392-2149
Ron KeluskyBarry Gutteridge
General ManagerCommissioner
Toronto AmbulanceWorks and Emergency Services
