THUNDER BAY – The actions of quick-thinking civilians to an incident Thursday serves as a reminder to the importance of a simple life-saving technique.
Witnesses quickly responded and administered CPR to a driver involved in a low-speed collision in the city’s east end, where the man is believed to have experienced a medical event behind the wheel.
While the condition of the 61-year-old driver is not known, police said the actions of those who provided assistance until paramedics arrived could have saved a life.
Superior North EMS chief Norm Gale said heart disease and sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the country, and CPR is the one way members of the public can provide immediate aid.
“CPR saves lives. Anybody can do CPR. Everybody should have training in CPR,” he said on Friday.
In cases of heart attack, time is of the essence.
Gale said brain death begins within four to six minutes after a person has stopped breathing and a heart has stopped beating
The first step in case of emergency is to immediately call 911 and alert first responders.
Once that call has been made, hard and fast chest compressions are to be started.
Gale said people should not be afraid of hurting the person.
“What people need to understand is in these circumstances the person is dead. The performance of CPR will not make it worse,” he said.
“It can only improve the situation and provide hope the person could be resuscitated.”
