Initiative aims to instill confidence in New Zealanders to act
ASB Bank is joining forces with Hato Hone St John in a lifesaving skills training campaign called Shocktober, the 3-Steps to Life programme to prepare local communities across Aotearoa for emergency cases.
Part of the programme is equipping local communities with an essential knowledge in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as well as the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). A free course to teach vital lifesaving skills is being offered to empower Kiwis to act in an emergency.
“ASB is proud to support our community partner Hato Hone St John in its mission to upskill thousands of New Zealanders. Every day, six people across Aotearoa experience cardiac arrest, with only one in 10 surviving. Prompt action with CPR and AED usage can increase a patient’s chance of survival by up to 40%,” said Mark Graham, executive manager of commercial partnerships at ASB.
“We have AEDs in all of our branches and have had to use them a number of times, so we know how critical they can be in an emergency, and the difference they can make.”
Jacci Tatnell, head of community education at Hato Hone St John, said they are aiming to reach 27,000 people with the programme for 2023, including isolated and vulnerable communities, to instill confidence for all New Zealanders to respond effectively during cardiac emergencies.
“CPR and AED skills can help people to make a profound difference in their communities and maybe even save a life,” Tatnell noted.
In a news release, the ASB is inviting everyone to attend any of the free one-hour Shocktober educational programmes throughout Aotearoa. The “Heartbeat Highway Tour” will include three events hosted by ASB in Greymouth, Wellington, and Kaitaia.
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