During a surf trip near Jordan River last May, the Krzymowski family was taking a coffee break in their converted school bus when suddenly they heard shouting.
Someone had collapsed about five feet in front of their vehicle, spurring what turned into life-saving efforts that resulted in the family and an off-duty paramedic being awarded on Tuesday (Feb. 20).
B次元官网网址淢y husband (Will) and I were the first ones out and he recognized kind of right away what was happening,B次元官网网址� Mabel Krzymowski said of her husbands realization the person outside their bus was in cardiac arrest. B次元官网网址淪o we started chest compressions and mouth to mouth.B次元官网网址�
Meanwhile, their 13-year-old daughter Sarah rushed to get help at the nearby Cold Shoulder Cafe, where she shouted out a plea for a cell phone.
At the table closest to her sat paramedic Jared Kowalchuk, who immediately identified himself and took off with Sarah back to the bus. Because of the quick response, and a passerby offering a portable AED they happened to have in their car, a life was saved.
Kowalchuk and the Krzymowski family were honoured on Tuesday in Victoria alongside Conor Williams, another off-duty paramedic who saved a man at soccer practice in Duncan in January 2023.
BC Emergency Health Services awarded both off-duty paramedics with letters of commendation and challenge coins, while the Krzymowski family were given Vital Link Awards.
WilliamsB次元官网网址� story was similar to the one in Jordan River, with the quick actions of bystanders and the availability of an AED turning a potential tragedy into a triumph.
He had just finished his morning paramedic shift and was looking to unwind by playing soccer at DuncanB次元官网网址檚 Sherman Road Field. After hearing his name yelled by a coach from an opposing team, William saw his friend Stevan Zoric collapsed on the ground.
The paramedic ran over, immediately switching into work mode, and started CPR upon realizing his friend was in cardiac arrest. Williams normally has to provide the cardiac care once every week or two, but not on a friend.
B次元官网网址淲hich just made it a little bit more difficult because IB次元官网网址檝e known Stevan for the last 14 years,B次元官网网址� he said.
Zoric attended the ceremony in Victoria along with family members who expressed their gratitude for Williams and his quick and capable work.
B次元官网网址淵ou saved a life, you saved our son,B次元官网网址� ZoricB次元官网网址檚 mother told the audience at the ceremony. B次元官网网址淭here are simply not enough words to say how grateful we are.B次元官网网址�
In both cases, the positive outcome was possible because all the B次元官网网址渧ital linksB次元官网网址� in the chain of survival were present, said Brian Twaites, BCEHSB次元官网网址� public information officer.
B次元官网网址淚t starts with early recognition of cardiac arrest, followed by early activation of EMS, early bystander CPR, early defibrillation, and then itB次元官网网址檚 followed by advanced resuscitation,B次元官网网址� he told the audience at the ceremony.
Paramedic officials said the two cases show the importance of just a little first aid training. Will Krzymowski had done a CPR course at the insistence of his boss at an architecture firm.
B次元官网网址淵ou can more than double somebodyB次元官网网址檚 chance of survivability with early bystander CPR and the use of an AED,B次元官网网址� Twaites said. B次元官网网址淟earning CPR truly is a selfless gift.B次元官网网址�
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