‘Ottawa’ Paramedics Credit Carlingwood YMCA Staff for Helping Save Heart Attack Victim
Paramedics are crediting fast-acting staff at the Carlingwood YMCA/YWCA for helping save a man’s life.
A man in his 30s went into cardiac arrest while taking part in an aquatics program at the Carlingwood Y around 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
According to paramedics, YMCA staff quickly began administering CPR and used the on-site defibrillator to deliver a shock before paramedics arrived.
The man regained a pulse, and was then treated by paramedics and taken to the Ottawa Heart Institute.
“All key elements in the chain of survival, which includes early 911 notification, early CPR, early defibrillation and advanced paramedic care are shown to dramatically increase survival rates in cases of sudden cardiac arrest,” paramedics said.
The Ottawa Paramedics Service oversees more than 1,000 Automate External Defibrillators within the city, including all police and fire vehicles and most recreational facilities, community centres and libraries.