World Restart a Heart Day takes place every year on October 16. This international initiative, raises public awareness of the importance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) in the event of cardiac arrest.
If someone collapsed near you at work, would you know how to respond? In such a sudden situation, knowing where to start can help you take charge: ask for help, have someone call 911 and take the first steps to help.
Being prepared means having a clear plan to act with confidence in an unexpected situation.
October 16 is also an opportunity to picture yourself in an essential role: the person who knows how to help.
Cardiac arrest: why act before emergency services arrive?
Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops pumping blood effectively. The person loses consciousness and is no longer breathing normally. The brain and other vital organs are then deprived of the oxygen they need.
According to Heart & Stroke, approximately 60,000 cardiac arrests occur outside hospitals each year in Canada. Only one in ten people survives.
For every minute that passes without CPR or defibrillation, the chances of survival decrease by approximately 10%.
In Montreal and Laval, Urgences-santé reported an average response time of 6 minutes and 21 seconds in 2024–2025, from the time its communications centre answered the call to the arrival of the first responder or paramedic for priority 0 life-threatening emergencies.
In areas of Quebec without first responders, 45% of ambulance transports related to a very urgent call had a response time of more than 10 minutes, according to the May 2025 report from the Auditor General of Quebec.
While you wait, you can begin to help. CPR and a defibrillator work together: compressions support blood circulation, while the AED analyzes the heart rhythm and can deliver a shock if needed. Together, these interventions can double the chances of survival.
How does CPR and AED training prepare you to respond?
During an evacuation drill at school or work, you practise the route and procedures so you know how to respond when an alarm sounds. First aid training follows a similar approach: learn what to do and practise it before you need it.
You practise recognizing an emergency, asking for help and taking the appropriate steps. This preparation reduces the uncertainty of having to decide what to do in the moment. You have a familiar sequence of actions to rely on.
You can then focus on the person who needs help and involve those around you with clear instructions: “You, call 911. You, get the defibrillator. You, go meet the emergency responders.”
Practising these skills gives you concrete guidance to respond with confidence and organize help around you.
What should you do if someone is in cardiac arrest?
A person who is unresponsive and is not breathing normally needs immediate help. Gasping is not normal breathing.
Remember these three essential actions:
- Call 911 and ask someone nearby to bring an automated external defibrillator (AED).
- Start CPR immediately, following the dispatcher’s instructions.
- Use the AED as soon as it is available, following its instructions.
Using an AED is one of the essential first aid skills to know, alongside other useful responses to everyday emergencies.
You begin helping with support from the dispatcher, then the professionals take over. First responders play an important role in this chain of survival, providing first aid before paramedic teams arrive.
On October 16, take steps to be ready to act
World Restart a Heart Day is an opportunity to ask yourself: if someone needed me today, would I feel ready to help?
At work, a few actions can help you be better prepared:
- Locate the AED, if your workplace has one, and know where it is kept.
- Identify the first aiders and know how to reach them quickly.
- Review the emergency procedures, including how to meet and guide emergency responders.
- Take a course or refresh your knowledge to practise the skills and ask your questions.
For businesses, this day can also be an opportunity to bring the team together for a brief practice scenario. Who calls 911? Who brings the AED? Who guides emergency responders to the person?
Discussing it together helps everyone better understand how they can contribute.
One day, you could be that person
The person who steps forward. Who calls for help. Who begins using the skills learned in training.
We cannot choose when an emergency happens. But we can choose to prepare for it and build the confidence to act when someone needs us.
At Santinel, our courses give you the opportunity to learn and practise CPR and AED use, with options tailored to different needs.
This October 16, explore our CPR and AED courses and build the confidence to take action.
