February is Heart Month, which provides an opportunity to focus on the steps we can take to improve our heart health. We can reduce our risk of heart disease by making healthy lifestyle choices. Approximately 2.4 million Canadian adults live with diagnosed heart disease, which is the second leading cause of death in Canada.
In 2018, Markham Fire & Emergency Services was dispatched to almost 4000 medical emergencies, many of those related to cardiac health.
Public access defibrillators are now located at each City of Markham facility along with many privately operated buildings.
Residents are encouraged to take the opportunity to learn Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and educate themselves about the location and use of public access defibrillators in the buildings that they frequently access. We all have a role in saving lives.