3 Steps for Life: ASB and Hato Hone St John Join Forces to Teach Lifesaving Skills to Kiwi this ‘Shocktober’
16 October 2023
ASB and Hato Hone St John are joining forces this October to support ‘Shocktober’, a lifesaving skills training campaign that aims to equip local communities across Aotearoa with essential knowledge in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED).
For the past 15 years, ASB has supported Hato Hone St John to foster safe, caring communities. As part of Shocktober, the 3-Steps to Life programme will offer a free course to teach vital lifesaving skills and give everyday Kiwi the confidence they need to act in an emergency.
Mark Graham, ASB Executive Manager Commercial Partnerships, says “ASB is proud to support our community partner Hato Hone St John in its mission to upskill thousands of New Zealanders. Every day, six people across Aotearoa experience cardiac arrest, with only one in ten surviving. Prompt action with CPR and AED usage can increase a patient’s chance of survival by up to 40%.
We have AEDs in all of our branches and have had to use them a number of times, so we know how critical they can be in an emergency, and the difference they can make.”
Jacci Tatnell, Hato Hone St John Head of Community Education says “This year, we aim to reach 27,000 people with this programme, reaching into isolated and vulnerable communities, providing education and instilling confidence for all New Zealanders to respond effectively during cardiac emergencies. CPR and AED skills can help people to make a profound difference in their communities and maybe even save a life.”
Throughout October, anyone can attend any of the free one-hour Shocktober educational programmes throughout Aotearoa. The initiative, dubbed the Heartbeat Highway tour, will include three events hosted by ASB in Greymouth (12 October), Wellington (16 October) and Kaitaia (30 October).
