The Citizen, 2016-11-24, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016.
County paramedics honoured for life-saving actions
Heroes
A number of Huron County paramedics and emergency services personnel were honoured
last week at the Nov. 16 meeting of Huron County Council for saving the lives of two people
who fell victim to cardiac arrest in two separate incidents this past August. Top, from left are
those involved in the Aug. 27 save: Ambulance Communication Officer (ACO) Kellie Lawson,
ACO Alicia Dodds, Paramedic Marion Taylor, Fire District Chief David Erb, Firefighter Doug
Findlay, Firefighter Marty Merner, retired Paramedic Brian Steckle, Sandra Barkley, Past
Huron County Warden Joe Steffler, Chief Administrative Officer Brenda Orchard, Chief of
Emergency Services Jeff Horseman and Director of Operations Steven Lund. Bottom, from
left are those involved in the Aug. 31 save: Paramedic David Wagner, ACO Virginia Davis,
ACO Sheri Berndt, Paramedic Gary Renaud, Paramedic Heather Malley, Allan Pollard,
Steffler, Orchard, Horseman and Lund. (Shawn Lou
gnlln photos)
Several first responders from the
region were recognized for their life-
saving skills by Huron County
Council during a special ceremony
on Wednesday, Nov. 16.
On Saturday, Aug. 27, a couple,
the Barkleys, from Niagara Falls,
Ontario were visiting the Zurich
Bean Festival for the annual car
show. They arrived early with other
family members and decided to
go to the arena for the Zurich
Minor Athletic Association
breakfast.
Upon entering the ice surface,
Sandra Barkley collapsed after
having a sudden cardiac arrest.
Zurich Firefighters Marty Merner,
Doug Findlay and retired paramedic
Brian Steckle came to her aid. They
quickly did an assessment and found
her to be without vital signs, at
which point CPR was initiated.
These first responders called 911
and used the public access
defibrillator from the Zurich arena to
administer a shock. Upon calling
911, Ambulance Communication
Officer (ACO) call -taker Kellie
Lawson and ACO Alicia Dodds
assisted the responders on scene
with instructions for Barkley's care
and dispatched an ambulance.
Huron County Paramedic Services
crew Mitchel Homuth and Marion
Taylor were at the Zurich station and
subsequently arrived to the scene
within three minutes of being
contacted. Upon arrival they found
Barkley to be unconscious but with a
pulse. After completing their
assessments and stabilizing Barkley,
the crew transported her to South
Huron Hospital with District Chief
David Erb attending as primary care
paramedic (PCP) Homuth felt there
was a possibility of re -arrest. To
their amazement, upon arrival at
South Huron Hospital, Barkley was
conscious and able to answer simple
jr
entral Huron
PUBLIC NOTICE
NO OVERNIGHT PARKING
Overnight parking is prohibited on any
municipal road or street within the
Municipality of Central Huron from
November 15, 2016 to April 1, 2017
between the hours of 2:00 a.m. to 6:00
a.m.
Any vehicle found to be in violation will
be ticketed and/or towed.
Bruce Brockelbank, MLEO
Bylaw Enforcement Officer
questions. After being stabilized
further at South Huron Hospital the
crew transported Barkley to London
for further treatment.
The second life-saving incident
took place on Wednesday, Aug. 31
when the London Central
Ambulance Communications Centre
(CACC) received a 911 call for an
individual in medical distress in the
Town of Goderich. ACO Virginia
Davis took the call from Allan
Pollard's wife and assisted her over
the phone to provide first aid to her
husband, who was suffering chest
pain. At the same time, ACO Sheri
Berndt was dispatching an
ambulance from the Huron County
Paramedic Services' Goderich
station. Pollard's condition
worsened and ACO Davis listened to
Pollard's breathing over the phone
and attempted to have the woman get
her husband to the floor to start CPR
as she recognized he was having
agonal respirations. She was unable
to do this as she could not lift her
husband.
Huron County Paramedic Services
PCP crew Heather Malley and Gary
Renaud were dispatched to the
residence and upon arrival assessed
Pollard and found that he had now
suffered a sudden cardiac arrest.
PCP Malley and PCP Renaud
initiated their medical directive for
sudden cardiac arrest. CPR was
started by PCP Renaud while PCP
Malley attached the cardiac monitor.
PCP Malley was then able to shock
Pollard. After a reassessment his
pulse had returned.
As Pollard was being prepared for
transport he experienced another
cardiac arrest. A subsequent shock
was administered by PCP Malley.
After two minutes of CPR, Pollard
was reassessed and a strong carotid
pulse was found. PCPs David
Wagner and David Ludwig arrived
to assist in removing him from his
house where he became semi-
conscious.
The crew then transported Pollard
to Alexandra Marine and General
Hospital where he was stabilized.
The crew then transported Pollard to
St. Mary's Hospital in Kitchener for
further treatment.
Maple Products
Maple
and
Moose
398 Queen St.,
Blyth
519-523-4276
Before you put your
equipment away
for the season
Book your
McGavin Check
NOW!
Annual Inspections
For All Makes and Models
Tractors - Skid Steers
- Round Balers - Square Balers
- Harvesters
Know
Something i
Needs to Be
Repaired?
0
Best Discounts,
®) by booking before
November 30, 2016
Call
Chris Stevenson
and start
saving today.
SIGN UP AND SAVE!
Don't Pay the Interest
until March 2017 mac)
,as 1,-N-
FARM EQUIPMENT
WALTON, ONTARIO
1 877 887 6365
Family Owned Since 1936