Northumberland County Paramedics hosted the sixth annual Survivor Night event at Penryn Park Golf and County Club in Port Hope on Thursday, October 14, 2021.
Northumberland County CAO Jennifer Moore shared 12 stories about situations where first responders in this community worked together – sometimes with the help of brave bystanders – and applied their training and expertise to successfully resuscitate a person experiencing cardiac arrest.
Moore read each story highlighting the role of bystanders, dispatchers and emergency responders including firefighters and Northumberland County Paramedics and the early intervention of CPR in helping to save the life of the individuals.
Each recipient received a “Lightning Bolt” pin and certificate for their role in saving the life of the individual.
On January 28, 2020, Daryl Blake was walking in the park just before noon, when he suddenly developed pain and heavy pressure in his chest.
He immediately called his wife to come and get him.
His wife called 9-1-1, and the paramedics arrived to find the patient in the driveway.
He was pale, clammy and short of breath.
Paramedics had placed Daryl on a stretcher to run an Electrocardigram when he stated that he ‘felt funny’.
He went unconscious, and then went into cardiac arrest
Paramedics resuscitated Daryl three times during the call.
He was taken directly to the Cardiac Cath lab at Peterborough Regional Health Centre, where he received life-saving treatment.
Honoured for helping to save the life of Daryl Blake were
Northumberland Paramedics:
Caroline Brockbank
Tracey Murphy
Lindsay Dispatcher
Deanna Marucio
STORY 2
It was February 9, 2020, and the individual in our story had long been battling cancer.
This individual lived alone, and a check-in with family the evening before confirmed that he felt tired, but nothing really out of the ordinary.
On the day in question, his daughter arrived for a visit, and found him on the floor and non-responsive.
She called 9-1-1.
When the crew arrived, they confirmed he had suffered a cardiac arrest, and started CPR and an IV.
He regained a heartbeat before paramedics transferred his care to hospital staff.
Honoured were
Port Hope Fire Department
Captain Mark Lent and
Firefighter Mackenzie Allinson
Northumberland Paramedics
Bob Cranley
Sean Johnston
Lindsay Dispatcher Nicole Paquette
STORY 3
On Mary 9, 2020, Wayne Maclennan became very short of breath in the hallway of his residence, and he called 9-1-1.
When crews arrived on-scene, they found that Wayne was still having trouble breathing. He said he had some mild discomfort in his chest.As paramedics were moving him to a stretcher, he lost consciousness and became Vital Signs Absent.
With CPR, Wayne regained a heartbeat however only a very slow rhythm, and he lost consciousness a second time.
Epinephrine was administered, and Wayne regained consciousness.
He was transported to the hospital for further care.
Honoured were
Cramahe Fire Department
Station Chief Jim Magee
Lieutenant Brad Reynolds
Firefighter Troy Wastle
Northumberland Paramedics
Michael Mallette
Northumberland Paramedic Dan Dulmage
Lindsay Dispatcher Bonnie Coombs
STORY 4
Jaye Bevan was a walk-in patient at Northumberland Hills Hospital on April 4, 2020, experiencing chest pain.
While being treated for cardiac arrest in the emergency department, he became Vital Signs Absent twice.
A team of nurses and doctors treated Jaye until he became stable enough for transfer to the Peterborough Regional Health Centre.
While en route to PRHC, he re-arrested.
With paramedic intervention, he ultimately returned to spontaneous circulation.
Northumberland Paramedics
Krista Howe and Austin Greive
Lindsay Dispatcher Fraser Smith
STORY 5
Karen Loates was in bed on May 21, 2020 when she awoke with a sudden onset of shortness of breath.
With no prior history of chest pain or shortness of breath, she asked her husband to call 9-1-1.
Her symptoms increased in severity and, ultimately, she lost consciousness.
When paramedics arrived, Karen was on the on the floor, Vital Signs Absent.
Paramedics administered defibrillation and medications, and Karen’s pulse returned.
Honoured were
Port Hope Fire Department
Captain Mark Lent
Firefighter Steve Nurse and
Firefighter Mackenzie Allinson
Northumberland Paramedics
Sean Johnston
Bob Cranley
Lindsay Dispatcher Michael Waller
Northumberland Paramedic Joseph Glass
STORY 6
The next story is about an individual who, over the course of six months, was experiencing heartburn along with some chest pain.
He did see his doctor for treatment, but there had not yet been any diagnosis.
Over the two weeks prior to his health emergency, this individual was experiencing bouts of shortness of breath upon exertion.
On May 25, 2020, he had been out in the community and, upon returning home, became even more short of breath than usual with some moderate chest pain.
He took two aspirin and called 9-1-1.
The paramedic crew arrived, and as they were placing this individual on a stretcher, he went into cardiac arrest.
Paramedics shocked him once with a defibrillator, and achieved a return of spontaneous circulation before transporting him to the hospital for further treatment.
Honoured were Northumberland Paramedic
Tracy Pigden
Cobourg Fire Department
Acting Captain Chris Post
And Firefighter Bryan Turpin
Lindsay Dispatcher Bethany White
Northumberland Paramedic Kelly Bryan
STORY 7
On the evening of June 11, 2020, the woman in our story experienced a sudden onset of abdominal pain and she fell out of bed.
In the morning, she asked her daughter to call 9-1-1.
During transport to the hospital, this individual experienced a seizure and went Vital Signs Absent.
Paramedics administered CPR and defibrillation, and she regained her pulse and began breathing on her own, before her care was transitioned to the hospital team.
Honoured were
Northumberland Paramedics
Thomas Muzik
Wayne Fowler
STORY 8
On July 9, 2020, a man was enjoying sitting on the front porch with his wife.
Around 9:30 a.m., upon heading back inside, he found he was unable to stand on his feet without help.
He appeared to be in distress, holding onto the counter.
He eventually lost strength in his legs and his wife lowered him to the floor, where he was unresponsive for 15 minutes.
The man’s wife called 9-1-1.
After a brief return to consciousness, he went Vital Signs Absent, and paramedics – having arrived on scene – treated him with CPR and Epinephrine.
This individual regained spontaneous respirations and a good strong pulse, and was transported to the hospital.
Honoured were
Northumberland Paramedics
Jim Anderson and
Haley Martin
Northumberland Paramedics student Dorothy Ashford Smith
Lindsay Dispatcher Christopher Roscoe
STORY 9
On August 2, 2020, Erich Bojarzin was at home with his wife Karen when he began feeling dizzy and mildly short of breath.
He collapsed to the floor.
Karen called 9-1-1 and immediately jumped into action, delivering CPR.
Paramedics arrived onsite, with the Cramahe Fire Department arriving shortly thereafter.
Firefighters took over CPR from Karen while paramedics administered Epinephrine and defibrillation.
Erich regained consciousness and was transported to the hospital for further treatment.
For assisting Northumberland Paramedics by completing the first three links (early access to care, early CPR, early defibrillation ) during this emergency, Karen Nicoll was awarded a Certificate of Recognition.
Honoured were
Cramahe Fire Department Firefighters
Calvin Slade
Jamie Briggs
Steve Williams
Colton Jones
Northumberland Paramedics
Michael Malette
Dawn Vansseters
Lindsay Dispatcher Margaret Thurston and
Northumberland Paramedic Dan Dulmage
STORY 10
It was around 4:30 in the morning on October 12, 2020, and David Otterson was at home in bed.
He had recently been diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat, but was being treated with medication, and had been feeling fine.
David’s wife Allyson awoke to him making sounds of distress and she discovered he was not breathing.
Allyson immediately started CPR.
She paused to get her cell phone and call
9-1-1 before returning to her husband’s side to continue CPR.
When crews arrived, they administered defibrillation and Epinephrine, and David returned to spontaneous circulation.
For assisting Northumberland Paramedics by completing the first three links in the Chain of Survival during this emergency, Allyson Booth was awarded a Certificate of Recognition.
Honoured were
Cobourg Fire Department
Acting Captain Sorab Bulsara
And firefighter Nigel Hall
Northumberland Paramedics
Jim Anderson
Hayley Martin
Jeff Schinke
Lindsay Dispatcher Bonnie Coombs
STORY 11
On November 29, 2020, a man found his wife unconscious on the bathroom floor and called 9-1-1.
When crews arrived, they started an IV and administered defibrillation.
The woman’s pulse returned, and paramedics transported her to the hospital for further treatment.
Honoured were
Port Hope Fire Department
Captain David Lent and
Firefighter Thomas Hendy
Lindsay Dispatcher
Shelley Harrison
Northumberland Paramedics
Morgan Stinmiller
Rhys Palma and
Anna Dekleer
STORY 12
The final incident takes place at the scene of a house fire on December 3, 2020.
Firefighters pulled a woman from the second story of the residence, and transferred her to paramedics onsite.
She had evidence of smoke inhalation, and the crew began CPR.
Resuscitation continued en route to the hospital, and her pulse was regained.
Honoured were
Northumberland Paramedics
Trent Clapperton and
Meredith Lortie
Lindsay Dispatcher
Rosemarie Townshen-Carter
Cramahe Fire Department firefighters
Calvin Slade
Marcus Lenahan
Brenden Savage
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
