Port
Moody/New Westminster, Campbell River, Surrey – Three spouses are alive and
celebrating this Valentine’s Day because their partners performed cardio
pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and saved their lives.
The three,
two wives and one husband, are being recognized by BC Ambulance Service (BCAS)
paramedics with Vital Link awards for their lifesaving actions.
Though they
are each located in different parts of the province, Laurie Landy, Martha
McArthur and Rick Frey share the common experience of being at home when their
spouses collapsed due to sudden cardiac arrest. By calling 9-1-1 and
immediately starting CPR, Laurie, Martha and Rick were able to assist in the
resuscitation of their partner.
On December
23, 2012, Rick Frey of Campbell River had just come into the house to take a
break from yard work when a visiting friend alerted him to his wife’s collapse.
Having taken a first aid course for his job as a professional fisherman, Rick
drew upon that knowledge and started CPR.
“I don’t
know how I did it, but I just did what needed to be done. I just knew I
couldn’t lose her,” said Rick. “I should probably do another course, as it has
been years since I took one.”
"Laurie,
Martha and Rick are proof that taking the time to learn CPR can save
lives," said Minister of Health Margaret MacDiarmid. “Congratulations to
the three of you. Thanks to your quick thinking actions you will be able to
celebrate a very special Valentine’s Day with your loved ones.”
On December
2, 2012, the Landys were spending a quiet morning at home in Port Moody, when
Robert collapsed. Laurie quickly called 9-1-1 and was told how to perform CPR
on her husband by BCAS dispatcher Sharon Roselli. Laurie continued CPR until
the paramedics and first responders arrived.
“Even
though I didn’t have CPR training, Sharon the dispatcher kept me reasonably
calm and I was able to follow her instructions,” said Laurie. “The paramedics
and dispatchers are obviously a dedicated, very determined team. They were a
great help to both my husband and I.”
“It is
absolutely clear to me,” said BCAS New Westminster A/Unit Chief Stephen
Shipman, “that if it weren’t for the actions of Laurie following the
instructions by the ambulance dispatcher, the outcome of that day would have
been very different. Laurie saved her husband’s life.”
On November
10, 2012, Gerry McArthur of Surrey had been doing strenuous work and gardening
in his backyard when he collapsed. His wife Martha had just completed CPR
training through her work with the RCMP and quickly identified that her husband
was experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest. She, along with her son, started CPR
immediately.
“The vast
majority of cardiac arrests our paramedics respond to occur at home,” said BCAS
Chief Operating Officer Les Fisher. “It is so fortunate that for each of these
patients their spouses were with them and able to perform CPR immediately. We
encourage everyone to learn CPR; as these couples have shown, it may be the
best gift you can give your loved one.”
The BCAS
Vital Link Awards were presented to Rick Frey at Station 108 in Campbell River
at 11 a.m., and to Laurie Landy at Station 247 in New Westminster at 9:00 a.m.
today. Martha McArthur will be presented in person with her Vital Link at a
later date.
BCAS
presents the Vital Link Award to recognize members of the public who save a
life and to raise awareness of the importance of CPR. A cardiac arrest victim
is four times more likely to survive if they receive CPR from a bystander.
However, in approximately 85 per cent of all cardiac arrest cases, this basic
procedure is not performed.
BCAS
attends between 2,400-2,800 cardiac arrest calls each year. Fewer than 12 per
cent of people who have a cardiac arrest survive.
BCAS
operates under the authority of the Emergency and Health Services Commission
(EHSC) to provide residents and healthcare professionals with access to
pre-hospital emergency and patient transfer services. The EHSC also oversees BC
Bedline and Trauma Services BC. The EHSC is a division of the Provincial Health
Services Authority, which manages high-quality specialized health care services
across BC.
BCAS is
recruiting paramedics in many rural communities throughout the province. Please
visit www.bcas.ca for more information about
our employment opportunities.
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