September 20, 2008
PORT COQUITLAM - The BC Ambulance Service presented two local lifeguards with Vital Link awards to recognize their life-saving actions after witnessing a man collapse poolside.
"Investing the time and resources to learn basic First Aid and CPR skills can be the difference between life and death," said Burquitlam MLA Harry Bloy. "Knowing how to respond to a medical emergency can help protect your loved ones and individuals in your community."
"These coaches are trained in CPR and rescue techniques, which no doubt helped save this person's life," said BCAS Unit Chief Darrell Skelton. "We know that even with the best technology and timely deployment of paramedics, CPR performed by bystanders remains the patient's best chance for survival."
Last year, Brendan Robertson and Jen Wylie were coaching the Port Coquitlam (Poco) Marlins swim team when they heard a man cry out and saw him collapse next to the bleachers. They immediately recognized that Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation was necessary because the man was not breathing and did not have a pulse. The coaches performed CPR until BCAS paramedics arrived and administered cardiac medication andapplied the Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) to shock his heart back into a normal rhythm. The patient was sitting up and talking to the nurses when he arrived at the hospital.
