The driver escapes the vehicle from the passenger side window. The car immediately starts to smoke, getting worse with each passing second. After taking a few steps, the driver falls to the ground. It is clear he is in shock. CCTV video shows Linda grabbing an emergency blanket from her car. She places it over the person to treat for shock as she moves the person away from the dangerously smoking car.

Linda performs a “primary survey” and checks the person for any life-threatening conditions. This is known as the ABCs in first aid (airway, breathing and circulation). She then conducts a “secondary survey” and assesses the person for any injuries such as fractures or any injury to the head, neck or back. Luckily the driver was wearing a seatbelt. Without it, he could have suffered a severe spinal cord injury or even died.

Bystanders started to gather around the scene. One bystander stayed with the injured person while Linda ran inside her home to get a first aid kit. During this time, bystanders begin to crowd around the smoking vehicle. Following the crash, the driver did not turn off the ignition and the engine was still running. The bystanders attempted to roll the car over to turn the ignition off. Upon Linda’s return to the scene, she immediately instructed they bystanders to stay back and allow for EMS to do it. Everyone listened and moved back. Linda continued first aid by immobilizing the person’s injuries and controlling bleeding with dressings and bandages to the person’s scalp and hand.

Seven minutes later the police arrive on scene and four minutes after that a fire truck arrives. The fire fighter took over and Linda’s duty as a first aider was done. She provided the fire fighter with a “first aider’s report” on what she saw and the type of care she provided. With an official handover to EMS, Linda leaves the scene. The video shows her properly removing her gloves to avoid contact with the person’s blood as she walks away.

After watching the CCTV video of Linda’s rescue, Nick Rondinelli, CEO of Heart to Heart First Aid CPR Services said “Linda’s quick thinking, training and first aid kit came in handy that day. As a Canadian Red Cross First Aid Instructor for over two decades, it is not surprising that Linda performed exceptional first aid and emergency response. She managed the scene very well and kept everyone safe. We couldn’t be prouder.”

“As such, Heart to Heart CPR is hereby nominating Linda Hart Mulgrew to receive the The Canadian Red Cross Rescuer Award,” said Rondinelli.

The annual Rescuer Award proudly recognizes the astonishing acts of everyday heroism, demonstrated by ordinary citizens (non-professional rescuers), or off-duty first responders who have volunteered assistance to help save a life, prevented further injury and/or provided comfort to the ill or injured person.

Nick Rondinelli, owner and CEO of Heart2Heart CPR was also awarded the Rescuer Award in 2019 along with his instructor John Devlin. This came after Nick and John provided first aid to a person on a scooter who was hit head-on by a vehicle in front of Heart to Heart’s head office at 216 Carlton Street in downtown Toronto. The entire incident was also caught on a CCTV.

The video that captured Linda’s rescue after the sudden and unexpected car crash in front of her home, shows the power of training and being prepared for emergencies. It also goes to show that anyone can be called to suddenly act in an emergency, whether it be at home, work or in the community. Getting trained in first aid, CPR and having a first aid kit is something that everyone should take seriously. Contact Heart2Heart CPR for training courses in your area by visiting their website www.heart2heartcpr.com. Alternatively, you can contact your local first aid training provider and get trained and equipped today!

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There is no health without mental health. While many Canadians struggle with mental health issues, certain groups in Canada are more likely to face disproportionate challenges accessing mental health supports because of racism, discrimination, socio-economic status or social exclusion. In addition, many community-based organizations providing mental health and well-being supports have faced a surge in demand and more complex needs resulting from the pandemic. The Government of Canada is committed to addressing these disparities and promoting positive mental health for everyone, particularly those who face social and health inequities, or have been uniquely impacted by the pandemic.

Today, Élisabeth Brière, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced $10 million in funding to the Canadian Red Cross. The Canadian Red Cross will act as an intermediary to distribute these funds to community-based organizations across the country working to promote mental health and well-being in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery. The funding will help equip community organizations and service providers to offer safe, culturally appropriate, responsive and effective programming and support for those whose mental health and well-being has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This announcement is part of a $100 million investment provided in Budget 2021 to support projects that promote mental health and prevent mental illness in populations disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. These include youth, seniors, First Nations, Inuit and Métis, Black and other racialized people in Canada, front-line and other essential workers, and others whose mental health has been, and continues to be especially impacted by the pandemic.

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On this Mother’s Day, the Canadian Red Cross and HPV Global Action would like to focus on women’s health and well-being, by reiterating their commitment to supporting the World Health Organization’s (WHO) targets that must be met by 2030 for countries to be on the path towards cervical cancer elimination through:

• Vaccination: 90% of girls fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15;
• Screening: 70% of women screened using a high-performance test by the age of 35, and again by the age of 45;
• Treatment: 90% of women identified with cervical disease receive treatment (90% of women with pre-cancer treated and 90% of women with invasive cancer managed).

The Red Cross and HPV Global Action recognize that this global strategy is critical in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights. Both organizations also understand the challenges to delivering the strategy in fragile and conflict settings, as well as in LMIC where the impact of cervical cancer on women, including mothers, girls and transgender men is the greatest.

This WHO strategy requires an intersectional feminist approach that recognizes the ways in which factors like gender, age, race, ethnicity, education and power shape the offer of and access to services. Many of those at risk or affected by HPV and cervical cancer still lack or have limited access to the health services and education that are critical to eliminating cervical cancer.

The successful implementation of the 90-70-90 strategy could reduce new cases by more than 40% and related deaths by five million within 20 years.(5) To help achieve this, public health policies supporting the WHO strategy should address HPV and its connection to cervical cancer through an intersectional lens to ensure its equitable implementation. Governments should take this opportunity to strengthen healthcare structures for diverse groups, particularly in LMIC and fragile contexts where systems are often challenged by resource constraints and health emergencies such as Zika, Ebola and COVID-19.(6) Equitable policy frameworks and resource allocations can positively impact vaccine acceptance, local supply and delivery, as well as cervical cancer screening practices and the availability of palliative care. These components are critical to ensuring progress on this commitment. International stakeholders are encouraged to prioritize the WHO objectives and work with healthcare providers, researchers, innovators, local actors, women-led organizations and dedicated partners, like the Canadian Red Cross and HPV Global Action, to ensure the WHO global strategy is successful.

As national and international leaders in community health, the Canadian Red Cross and HPV Global Action are reinforcing their dedication to prevention, screening and treatment, with a focus on those most at risk. The organizations are committed to using their global health capacity to improve access to services and information in areas with high prevalence of HPV and cervical cancer, building on foundations in place with existing partners. Other organizations, advocates, leaders and industries such as diagnostic, surgical, vaccine and pharmaceutical companies, are welcome to join us in working toward eliminating cervical cancer using an intersectional feminist approach.

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The investment announced on June 1 was made to help support the mental health of Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a statement from Bell. The Friendly Calls program has Red Cross volunteers talk to people who are isolated to help decrease loneliness and connect them to any available mental health resources they may need. The program currently focuses on isolated seniors, said Leianne Musselman, director of communications for the Canadian Red Cross, but they recognize there are others in isolation who may need support. They’ve also received a significant increase in the number of calls due to the impacts of COVID-19, she said.

“The new funding will allow us to expand and enhance the program to address the needs of all age groups who may be experiencing isolation,” Musselman said. “We are in the process of training personnel to provide support to individuals of all ages who are experiencing loneliness and isolation.”

The funding announcement builds on a $250,000 donation Bell made to the Canadian Red Cross in March. Red Cross staff and volunteers will be able to add up to 8,000 new Friendly Calls each month, according to Bell, aiming to provide emotional support and referrals for anyone struggling with their mental health. 

A “customized evidence-based telephone screening tool” developed for the COVID-19 pandemic will help volunteers identify each caller’s level of need to help make sure they receive the right support, the statement said. The screening also aims to guide discussions about mood and anxiety, general health and social isolation, as well as topics like financial and medication security.

“The need for health and wellbeing supports continues to increase significantly due to the COVID-19 crisis, and the Red Cross is on the front lines in helping Canadians feel connected during this difficult time,” said Conrad Sauvé, president and CEO of the Canadian Red Cross, in the statement. “With support from Bell Let’s Talk, we are increasing the Friendly Calls program to reach more isolated people who are struggling with how COVID-19 has impacted their lives.”

More information about how to reach the Friendly Calls programs will be available on the Canadian Red Cross website in the coming weeks.

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