Vision Zero is an ethics-based initiative that aims to reduce the number of road accident deaths to zero. It started in Sweden in 1997, where it enjoyed considerable success. The initiative went on to become a global force as several key cities all over the planet start to adopt its key principles. 

The proponents, supporters, and advocates of this ethics-based approach believe that life and health “can never be exchanged for other benefits within the society”. This runs in direct contrast with the prevailing cost and benefits comparisons wherein human life is assigned a monetary value that is measured against all other monetized costs and risks.

Because it is an ethics-based approach, Vision Zero does not really specify goals and the actual means of achieving them. It just guides strategy selection processes in such a way that life and health of people are given absolute importance. 

Sweden’s Success

As mentioned, Vision Zero started in Sweden in 1997 when the nation’s parliament approved its adoption as the new approach to designing and maintaining the safety of the country’s roads. Claus Tingvall, one of the designers of the original Vision Zero policy, states that road systems must be based on the idea that the people who are going to use them are capable of making mistakes. Hence, the responsibility to keep the roads safe should not fall only on the users but also on the design of the system itself. 

“If you take a nuclear power station, if you take aviation, if you take a rail system, all of them are based on [the idea that] they are operated by people who can make a mistake,” Tingvall says. This is echoed in one of the statements in the policy, which reads “In every situation a person might fail. The road system should not.”  

The approach proved useful for Sweden, and they have continually been among the most effective at avoiding road deaths in the past years.

American Model

Because of the initiative’s success in Sweden, other countries and key cities all over the world followed suit. New York City is among the earliest to adopt the Vision Zero principles in its policy-making, having made the move in 2014.  

Since then, the city has been getting quite positive results. The number of traffic mishaps and the deaths that results from them has been dropping year after year until 2018. This led to the city being awarded the 2018 Transport Achievement Award by the International Transport Forum at OECD. 

However, things turned sour by 2019. By May 2019, police records show that 65 people have been killed in the city. This is up by 30% to the fifty people killed in the same period in 2018. These figures show that the Vision Zero intervention is becoming ineffective, at least for NYC.

The figures being looked at only cover road deaths. They do not include those who are injured or those that seek the help of competent lawyers from firms such as the Dore Law Group.

North Carolina’s Vision Zero

In late 2016, North Carolina also adopted its own version of Vision Zero. Given the fate that has befallen the initiative in NYC, the future for this is also uncertain. Almost three years into the program, and results from Charlotte and other key areas in the state have yet to come.

If you are the owner of a new aeroplan credit card or are looking to get one, it is important to learn how to redeem your flight awards. Knowing how to fully take advantage of award flights could result in asignificant return value. The truth is, figuring out how to use your miles and points can be pretty frustrating for beginners, especially considering all the options available out there. Everyone wants to get the most value out of their miles and points, and taking the time to learn about the basics can make a big difference.

Aeroplan Air Canada is part of the Star Alliance group, together with other airlines such as Lufthansa, ANA, United, and Singapore Airlines. There are many different partnerships with airlines which can be useful when you are traveling to remote parts of Canada. Although you cannot transfer Aeroplan miles to ANA or United, you can still redeem the miles for award flights with these airlines. Sounds great, doesn’t it?

Aeroplan has a Fixed Mileage Rate award chart and the award calendar is open for booking 365 days in advance. The further in advance, you book a flight, the better the chance to get the seats that you want. Just keep in mind that not all partners have the same availability. For example, United opens its calendar only 337 days in advance.

One thing we really love about Aeroplan is the fact that you can have up to 2 stopovers or 1 stopover with an award on eligible flights when you travel between 2 continents. This can offer great value to those interested in a round-the-world itinerary. However, pay attention to extra fees that some of the partner airlines might have.

Best Ways to Redeem Aeroplan Miles

Although Aeroplan doesn’t have incredible sweet spots, its award from the U.S. to Western Europe (Europe 1) is just 110k miles roundtrip in business class. Moreover, you pay just 5k miles more for Eastern Europe (Europe 2). However, its true value shines when you start taking advantage of open jaw and stopover features.

There are some rules when it comes to using the Aeroplan stopovers and open jaw features. Cardholders must be aware of the fact that one-way tickets do not benefit from stopovers. Only flights between Canada and Continental USA and inside Canada can have either 1 open jaw or 1 stopover. Flights from Canada or Continental USA with Air Canada are allowed two stopovers when traveling to Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Central America, the Caribbean or Mexico. Award flights between 2 continents can have either two stopovers, or one stopover and one open jaw.

By using Aeroplan’s search tool, you can create an award itinerary when there is only one open jaw and one stopover involved. For more complex itineraries you will have to book by calling Aeroplan. When there is only one stopover or one open jaw, you can select a multi-city booking option and enter the search details one at a time.

Certain tools can make your life easier, like the airport Wikipedia page where you can see which airlines fly from your home airport to your dream destination. If, for example, you want to fly from the U.S. to a Europe 2 destination such as Athens with a stopover in Brussels, the Economy roundtrip will cost 75k miles, as the second destination doesn’t cost any more Aeroplan miles. For a total of 90k miles, you could switch your final destination from Athens to Bangkok, and keep the stopover in Brussels at the same price as a roundtrip to Bangkok.

Moreover, Aeroplan chart offers a very sweet deal for roundtrip Business class to Africa. If you would want to go to South Africa with a stopover in Tanzania, you would spend 150k Aeroplan miles and get to do both Southern Africa and Eastern Africa safari. Asia has many open jaw possibilities because it’s very cheap to fly between destinations with budget airlines such as Scoot Airlines and Air Asia. With United miles, you also have an Excursionist Perk when flying from Beijing to Singapore.

To start using Aeroplan award flights you have to apply for a free loyalty account. You can also use it to transfer points from Capital One, Amex, and Marriott. Just click Become A Member and follow the easy steps. Once you’ve joined, you can start looking for award flights under the section Book. Simply enter your destination, the number of passengers, desired dates and preferred seat class.

If you are looking for First Class or Business tickets, make sure it’s a mixed class itinerary, as you want to avoid paying more miles for Business Class when your itinerary’s longest segment is Economy. Most times, the best option is to choose the Fixed Mileage Rate, as the Market Fare Flight varies according to the cash price of the ticket, and will probably be more expensive. With this in mind, you are ready to start enjoying the benefits of Aeroplan’s reward program and get one step closer to your travel goals!

Over 470 000 Americans are reported to die of cardiac arrest in just a single year. These alarming stats are proof that more needs to be done to curb further escalation of cardiac arrest related deaths. A step in the right direction is by arming healthcare providers with the necessary knowledge regarding how to respond to cardiovascular emergencies.

To better react in such cases, it’s imperative that healthcare professionals have a better understanding of the signs and symptoms of cardiac arrest. We discuss them below.

Signs and Symptoms of Cardiac Arrest

The earlier you notice the signs and symptoms associated with cardiac arrest, the sooner you can offer assistance. This is information you can learn from programs such as Lifesaver Education. 

An individual who is suffering from a cardiac arrest attack is likely to display the

following symptoms:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pains
• Loss of consciousness
• Difficulty breathing
• Heart palpitations

Treatment of Cardiac Arrest

When someone experiences cardiac arrest, it results in blood not flowing to the major body organs. This often results in an individual failing to breathe and his or her heart consequently stopping. It follows that emergency cardiac arrest treatment involves getting the blood flowing and heart beating once it stops.

People who survive cardiac arrest must undergo the following treatment options.

Medication

Cardiac arrest can be caused by a diseased heart muscle which is often a result of high blood pressure. It can also be caused by excessive cholesterol in the bloodstream. Fortunately, there’s medication available that is designed to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Surgery

Cardiac arrest can also be caused by damage to a person’s blood vessels or heart valves. In such cases, treatment may include going under the knife. A person who has suffered from cardiac arrest may have to undergo surgery which can repair damaged blood vessels and heart valves, as well as remove blockages present in the arteries.

Exercise

Some cardiovascular problems don’t warrant extreme measures such as going for surgery. A few adjustments to your daily lifestyle may be enough to manage the situation.

Engaging in physical activity is known to improve cardiovascular fitness. Exercise will significantly reduce the risk of another heart attack occurring. Examples of physical exercises you can safely engage in include:

• Running
• Swimming
• Yoga
• Playing a sport
• Going to the gym

Change in Diet

Another worthwhile lifestyle adjustment that’s effective at improving cardiovascular fitness includes making a few dietary changes.

As mentioned earlier, cardiac arrest can be caused by an increase in cholesterol levels in your bloodstream. Eating foods free from cholesterol will prevent future attacks. This means staying away from junk food that is high in fat and maintaining a diet which includes:

• Beans
• Garlic
• Olive oil
• Spinach
• Nuts
• Oats and barley

Conclusion

The above information isn’t only meant for health care providers. Everyone must be aware of the factors that can trigger cardiac arrests and possibly guard against them. By identifying a problem early, anyone could save a life by ensuring someone reaches professional help before it becomes a crisis. And if you’re worried about yourself, make the changes and prioritize your health.