Ottawa Paramedic Service recognizes life-saving actions at Community Champion Coin Awards

Nine members of the public were recognized on Monday, June 1.

Feature story

Yesterday, Monday, June 1, the Ottawa Paramedic Service recognized the life-saving actions taken by nine members of the public at the Community Champion Coin Awards.

First aid provided by members of the community can make a significant difference in the outcome of a medical emergency. By recognizing critical symptoms – such as those of cardiac arrest – and taking immediate action through CPR and defibrillation, members of the public can initiate the vital “chain of survival”. These early actions enable communications officers to support the initial links of the chain and enables paramedics to quickly provide the necessary care when they arrive and complete the chain.

Through their selfless actions, these nine individuals remained calm under pressure and provided critical first aid during a medical emergency, actions that directly saved someone’s life:

• Xiaojing (Linda) Zhou, working at a local school, came to the assistance of an eight-year-old child who suddenly collapsed while running in gym class. Immediately initiating CPR allowed first responders to quickly take over once they arrived and stabilize the child, who made a full recovery.
• Matt Kavanagh and Dave Clement, while playing golf, noticed a man by himself approach the tee ahead of them and then suddenly collapse. Finding him unresponsive and not breathing, they immediately called 9-1-1 and initiated CPR, starting and maintaining the chain of survival until police and paramedics arrived with a defibrillator.
• Melanie Juneau, a special constable at Carleton University, responded to a call for a woman experiencing a sudden cardiovascular collapse. Within minutes, she delivered a shock using a semi-automatic external defibrillator and was able to stabilize the individual until paramedics arrived.
• Isabelle Janveaux, Joey Li, Dexter Bates, Leanne Tyler, and Peter Grimes, bystanders at a local hockey game, came to the assistance of a man who collapsed in the stands. Recognizing the signs of cardiac arrest, together they performed CPR and used a public access defibrillator to stabilize the individual until paramedics arrived.

Each individual received a Community Champion challenge coin for their outstanding commitment to keeping their community safe. The actions taken by these Community Champions and others help members of the public suffering a serious medical emergency or injury have a higher chance of survival.

The Ottawa Paramedic Service offers certification and recertification courses in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED). Visit ottawa.ca to learn more about these courses and others available through Ottawa Paramedic Service’s Public Education training centre.