A nation-wide network assists in carrying out the HSFC mission by providing information and education to health care providers, first responders and the general public. Resuscitation Program education includes all responses necessary to deal with sudden and often life threatening events affecting the cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and pulmonary systems.

This site provides you with HSFNS course and instructor descriptions, the Resuscitation Program materials catalogue, course rosters, instructor newsletter, and information about the Advisory Subcommittees that oversee provincial policies and program administration.

The 7-link Chain of Survival visually represents the elements necessary to increase the chances of survival following cardiac arrest. These steps, when initiated promptly, optimize chances of survival. Each component must be in place, developed to its fullest extent and linked together to achieve optimum results. Further, the cooperation and collaboration of the many groups responsible for saving lives is essential.

Education programs and CPR training, public awareness of when and how to act, universal access numbers, tiered response in all communities, early defibrillation, training for all emergency health personnel are only some of the supports required to ensure a strong, successful chain of survival in every community. The effort of each individual participating in the care of the person in cardiac arrest has the ability to minimize delay times and to help the person get treatment quickly.  

Remember - the chain is only as strong as its weakest link; if any link is weak or missing, the chances of survival are greatly reduced.

Resuscitation Programs include all responses necessary to deal with sudden and often life threatening events, and specifically include education in:

• Recognition of early warning signs of heart attack and stroke
• Accessing the emergency response system (911 or equivalent)
• Provision of early basic life support (BLS) that includes CPR and defibrillation at the scene when needed
• Provision of advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) or pediatric advanced life support (PALS) pre-hospital and in-hospital
• Transfer of the patient to a hospital where definitive care can be provided

We offer a variety of course levels depending on your background and interest. From learning the basics of CPR, defibrillation and advanced care to training as an instructor, there is a course and level for you.

What is cardiac arrest?
Cardiac arrest (or sudden cardiac arrest, sudden cardiac death) is a medical emergency. When a person stops breathing and the heart stops beating, then a person is experiencing cardiac arrest. (It is not a heart attack, which is when the blood supply to the heart is slowed or stopped because of a blockage.)

Learn more about cardiac arrest.

What is CPR?
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure involving chest compressions (pressing down on the chest) and artificial respiration (rescue breathing). It has the power to restore blood flow to someone suffering cardiac arrest, keeping them alive until an ambulance arrives.

The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) was founded subsequent to the 1992 Guidelines review. Only 5 organizations involved in resuscitation research and education initially formed ILCOR. The following members now comprise ILCOR:

1.     American Heart Association (AHA)

2.     European Resuscitation Council (ERC)

3.     Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (HSFC)

4.     InterAmerican Heart Foundation (IAHF)

5.     Australian and New Zealand Committee on Resuscitation (ANZCOR)

6.     Resuscitation Council of Southern Africa (RCSA), and

7.     Observer: Resuscitation Council of Asia (RCA)

HSFC is the only Canadian organization that has representation and decision-making authority on ILCOR, although many Canadian researchers and practitioners contribute to the ILCOR science review process which involves hundreds of researchers and clinicians worldwide.

ILCOR makes recommendations for resuscitation practice which are published in the AHA journal Circulation and in the ERC journal Resuscitation.

Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (HSFC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) are the North American collaborators that determine the resuscitation protocol and develop the Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) for Canada and the USA. The North American Guidelines are based on the ILCOR recommendations but take into consideration the aspects of North American health care systems structures, practices, policies and laws that differ in North America from other parts of the world.

The Guidelines are the foundation for all HSFC Resuscitation Program courses in Canada. All HSFC courses incorporate the latest evidence in resuscitation science and training. All CPR training agencies should refer to the Guidelines when developing their own training programs. 

The Guidelines for CPR and ECC are published in Circulation, can be downloaded free of charge from the HSFC or AHA website, and can be purchased from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia (HSFNS). 

The HSFC Research Fund is an important part of the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s research enterprise. The fund has been supporting multidisciplinary, strategic research in partnership with other organizations, including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and other charities since 2000. The vision of the HSF Research Fund is as follows:

Cardio/Cerebrovascular health of Canadians is improved through the synergistic mission priorities of the Heart and Stroke federation and the accelerated translation of research results into policy and practice.

The fund focus addresses questions related to specific knowledge gaps and opportunities in areas of mission priority as defined by the HSFC Strategic Plan. In February 2006 when Resuscitation was identified as a priority area for HSFC, a Resuscitation Research forum was held in Vancouver, BC to:

• Determine the needs, priorities and future direction of resuscitation-related research conducted by Canadian researchers;
• Build a core Canadian community focused on Resuscitation research; and
• Identify opportunities to participate in research and the establishment of the 2010 Guidelines.

• The Real-time monitoring of ventricular fibrillation Dynamics from human Langendorff Model for optimizing Resuscitation Outcomes (K. Nanthakumar- Toronto)
• A Survey of attitudes and factors associated with successful CPR knowledge transfer in an older population most likely to witness Cardiac Arrest (C. Vaillancourt - Ottawa)
• Strategies in Post-Arrest Resuscitation Care (SPARC)   (L. Morrison – Toronto)

Ongoing support is provided to the Canadian contingent of the Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium (ROC) (J. Chrsitenson,Vancouver ; I. Stiell,Ottawa ; L. Morrison/A. Slutsky, Toronto)

Additional information regarding these and other HSFC-funded research can be obtained on the HSFC web site (www.hsf.ca/research).