SOS First Aid is pleased to reproduce a recent article that appeared in the Oakville Beaver on April 28, 2015. Staff who work at Town of Oakville Recreation Facilities were recognized with Lifesaving Certificates of Recognition in honour of their brave actions that saved lives. SOS First Aid partners with the Town of Oakville to provide home alone safety and Red Cross babysitting courses to children and youth aged 9 – 14. We are very proud of these lifesavers and are happy that they have been recognized for their courageous efforts. We love working with the Town and their dedicated and passionate staff. Congratulations to Bob Pawliw, Larry Espinola, Alan Goulart, Janet Scarrow for a well-deserved award.
Lifesavers honoured at Oakville council
Photo by Jayson Mills, special to the Beaver
Town staff and residents responsible for saving lives at Oakville facilities were honoured by Town council on Monday with Lifesaving Certificates of Recognition.
Oakville Beaver
By David Lea
Fifteen Town staff and residents picked up Lifesaving Certificates of Recognition Monday in honour of their quick actions and heroic efforts to save lives.
Those recognized responded to emergencies in recent years at the River Oaks Community Centre, Oakville Transit Facility, Sir John Colborne Recreation Centre for Seniors, and Joshua’s Creek Arena.
“We are going to recognize some very extraordinary people for their extraordinary personal acts of courage, who saved lives at our Town facilities,” said Oakville Mayor Rob Burton.
“Often in an emergency, it’s people like these who will respond, and if you are the one having the emergency, it’s people like these you’ll be glad do respond. You will see truly selfless acts of bravery at moments of this type, when they rush to the scene and perform that lifesaving first-aid for those first critical moments until EMS can arrive.”
Burton said quick thinking and teamwork led to happy endings in all four incidents.
The first took place at the River Oaks Community Centre in June 2011 when a member of the River Oaks Recreation Centre Mature Adults Club suffered a cardiac arrest during a badminton game.
“Town staff Bob Pawliw, Larry Espinola, Alan Goulart, Janet Scarrow and Tony Luis did not hesitate,” said Burton.
“The situation was critical and together they took the situation under control- administering CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), using the AED (Automated External Defibrillator), and calling 911. The member is back playing badminton and pickle ball.”
At the Oakville Transit facility last November, Town employee Debbie Dalle Vedove immediately went to aid of an Oakville Transit driver who collapsed as he was walking in the main hallway of the building.
Burton said Dalle Vedove began CPR and directed others to call 911 while Transit employee Connie Benner provided assistance with the AED. Together, they successfully revived the man who was taken to hospital and has since recovered following successful heart surgery.
Another group was recognized for lifesaving work at the Sir John Colborne Recreation Centre for Seniors, which occurred in January when a member of the centre had a cardiac arrest while playing cards.
“Staff members Julie Pennal and Nancy Beddoe, and volunteer Don Lyons, quickly responded to the emergency by administering CPR and the AED,” said the mayor.
“Volunteer Kathryn Hamel and staff member Nicole Wedgerfield made the 911 call and helped keep the area clear of patrons. Thanks to their efforts, the 91-year-old member is back playing his weekly card game at the centre.”
The most recent incident took place at Joshua’s Creek Arena in February when a hockey player experienced a cardiac arrest.
Burton said teammate Raj Kandola began CPR.
Facility operators Dave Comeau and Andrew Brodie deployed the AED, called 911 and directed EMS to the scene.
The hockey player survived after being taken to hospital and undergoing heart surgery.
All of the Town’s buildings are equipped with at least one AED.
Town staff said all 42 AEDs are registered with Halton EMS so when someone calls 911, the dispatcher will be able to tell them the location of the AED in the building.
The municiplaity also has more than 250 staff trained in CPR and the use of its AEDs.
