CPR at the 2012 April Fools Run

It is always a wonderful thing to be afforded the opportunity to put years of training to good use. It is even better when that "good use" turns out to be something that impacts another person in a positive way.

This year on April 1st I was in the right place at the right time to help someone. In this particular case many people that know me and/or BC First Aid will have already heard about the incident as it was reported in the news paper. Unfortunately the article got several points wrong and most notably failed to mention someone (two people actually) who played a key role in what transpired.

The following is my account of what actually happened chronicled here both to encourage others to consider how important it might be to learn CPR and also to ensure credit is given where credit is due...

As I have done for the past 4 years I volunteered on April 1st at the April Fools Run half marathon between Gibsons and Sechelt BC. As the course medic my task is to follow the course alongside the runners checking to make sure everyone is doing well and be ready to respond if called upon. Previous years had all be relatively quiet, with just a few minor issues cropping up, but this year proved to be quite the exception.

As the run progresses and the runners spread out along HWY 101, I circle back and forth along the route keeping track of where everyone is and watching for problems. At approximately 11am I had just turned around at the finish line in Davis Bay and was starting back along HWY 101 when I was flagged down by an RCMP officer at the side of the road. He had been kneeling with another lady by a runner who had recently collapsed.

I pulled over and went to assess the situation.

This ´other lady´ turned out to be another off duty RCMP officer. I had already noticed the pair who had been riding on bicycles together along the course. They simply had been at the right place at the right time and arrived at the runner´s side literally within seconds.

The male officer was already in radio contact with dispatch and the female officer was already checking on the runner - I confirmed an Ambulance was on the way.

The female officer and I then rolled him onto his back and I assessed his condition as the male officer kept in radio contact and ensured the scene was safe.

I began CPR and instructed the female RCMP officer to continue compressions. This is where her training came into play. It was clear she had first aid training and her assistance was invaluable. She did exactly what she was supposed to do: giving effective compressions as I started to administer oxygen.

CPR is an intense experience as anyone might guess. Being on the side of the road with other runners still passing and cars going by makes it even more so. I was very impressed with the officer´s focus and proficiency during the incident.

Some time after this another runner arrived and identified herself as an ER Doctor and offered to help. She assisted by checking vitals and asked for a cell phone to call ahead to the ER and advised them of the situation. CPR continued with me assisting his breathing and the female RCMP officer doing compressions until he began to show signs of life.

It was a wonderful thing to hear when it was found that he had a pulse again.

All three of us continued to assist and monitor the runner until the Ambulance arrived. The female officer even stayed to help secure him to the board while I maintained an open airway and stabilized his head.

The paramedics, with their usual professionalism, quickly brought their advanced resources into play, secured him, and transported him to the hospital.

Regarding the newspaper article, I feel it is important to correct a few details.
Contrary to what the article states, I am a licensed Emergency Medical Responder and First Aid Instructor.

Most important though the article completely failed to mention the contribution of the two RCMP officers during this incident. They were the very first ones there. They called the Ambulance, and the female officer was one of the two people actively performing CPR. When someone steps up and does something like this it should be recognized. I truly hope they read this and know how valuable their contribution was, and that it didn´t go unnoticed. I hope they are proud of how they put their years of training to good use and truly helped someone.

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