Back to Top Empowering teens to save lives: Governor General’s award for Dr. Maloney - The Ottawa Hospital Website scanner for suspicious and malicious URLs
 

toh

Empowering teens to save lives: Governor General’s award for Dr. Maloney

 

In recognition of his efforts to improve life-saving skills and services, Dr. Justin Maloney received the Meritorious Service Cross from Governor General Julie Payette in a ceremony at Rideau Hall on Dec. 12. Through the Advanced Coronary Treatment Foundation, Dr. Maloney has ensured that more than 3 million students have received CPR training. Photo courtesy of the Governor General’s office.

For more than 30 years, The Ottawa Hospital’s Dr. Justin Maloney has been a leader in bringing emergency medicine and emergency medical services to communities across Canada.

In recognition of his efforts to improve life-saving skills and services, Dr. Maloney received the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Cross in a ceremony at Rideau Hall on Dec. 12. Created in 1984, the award recognizes exceptional deeds that bring honour to Canada.

In 1985, for example, Dr. Maloney set his sights on a daunting goal: teach every high school student in Canada how to save lives with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills taught through the educational curriculum. As co-founder of the Advanced Coronary Treatment (ACT) Foundation, he said that goal is on its way to being realized. To date, more than 3 million students have received CPR training, over 6,500 teachers have been trained as instructors, and the program is gaining traction in schools across Canada.

“The ACT program empowers youths to take action in an emergency, instead of standing there as a helpless witness,” said Dr. Maloney. “They are taught to recognize that what they are seeing might be a health emergency, to react by calling out for help, dialling 911, finding a defibrillator and, if needed, to resuscitate by starting CPR.”

Dr. Guy Hébert, Head of Emergency Medicine at The Ottawa Hospital, called Dr. Maloney “a pioneer in pre-hospital care.” He noted that his colleague was also instrumental in creating the 911 national emergency call system and the Advanced Care Paramedic System in Ottawa.

“Because of this expertise, he realized that early CPR was key in the chain of survival for patients who suffer from cardiac arrests,” said Dr. Hébert. “He understood that to improve a patient’s chances, our community needed to increase awareness and be trained in CPR.”

In Canada, an estimated 40,000 cardiac arrests occur outside the hospital each year. Nearly 88 percent of these occur at home.

“Every minute lost in initiating CPR results in a 10 percent decrease in the survival rate of the victim,” said Dr. Hébert. “In Norway, about 90 percent of high school students attend a CPR class. As a country, they have one of the best bystander CPR rates in the world. We need to achieve this or better. Through programs like the ACT CPR program, this goal will be reached.”

Dr. Maloney said teaching CPR to high school students allows kids to see themselves as “potential heroes.”

“They realize they could be really important in a resuscitation situation,” he said. “We’re also teaching them about diet and the risk of smoking and making them champions for health within their family, influencing some of the behaviours and activities. And I think the health and phys ed teachers are really proud that they are the ones delivering this.”

“The continued sustainability of the ACT program, and other emergency medical initiatives spearheaded by Dr. Maloney, save lives every day,” said emergency physician Dr. Richard Dionne. “We have all been impacted by Dr. Maloney, and I think all would agree that he is a symbol of dedication, a true patriot and a benefactor to his country.”

 

 

 
Comment

You might also like…

Respirologist answers FAQs about cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common genetic disease affecting children and young adults in Canada. Respirologist Dr. Shawn Aaron provides an overview of CF, including causes, symptoms, and the remarkable improvements made in life expectancy over the years.

5 things to know if you or someone you love is dealing with infertility

Around the world, one in six couples struggle to make their dreams of parenthood a reality. Dr. Jenna Gale, a specialist in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, shares advice to help you or a loved one on the fertility journey.

Understanding rabies: Risks, vaccination and what to do after a bite

Although rare in Canada, rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. Infectious diseases expert Dr. Michaeline McGuinty shares how rabies is spread, when to get vaccinated and what to do after a bite.

Do you have a surgery coming up? Here are five “prehab” tips to help you recover faster

You’ve probably heard about rehabilitation, but what about “prehabilitation”? Prehab is all about getting your body and mind in top shape before surgery so you can enjoy a smoother, quicker recovery. Discover five essential prehab strategies from researcher Dr. Daniel McIsaac.

Watch: What you need to know about coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease is the most common form of heart disease and one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In this video, Cardiologist Dr. Nadine Gauthier shares risk factors, symptoms, treatment options and how to adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle.

A new guide to navigating your mental health

The Ottawa Hospital has partnered with YouTube to create an important series of videos where health-care professionals offer expert guidance to help you or a loved one navigate mental health challenges.

This website gives you common facts, advice and tips. Some of it may not apply to you. Please talk to your doctor, nurse or other health-care team member to see if this information will work for you. They can also answer your questions and concerns.

WPML Translation ID: 6220