Bob Grimshaw is living proof of just how vital CPR is.
The 78-year-old and his wife, Barbara, were bottling a batch of his favourite wine at the Armstrong Wine and Brew when a strange sensation came over Bob.
“Bob was feeling faint,” said Barbara, recalling that unforgettable day – Sept. 9, 2011. “He just took a couple of steps and down he went (right in front of the bottling station).”
Thankfully, Dave Garland was working that day.
Even though Garland, a former volunteer firefighter, hadn’t practiced CPR in many years, he immediately initiated the life-saving technique on Bob after a pulse couldn’t be found.
“I’m glad it came back and I’m glad Bob came back,” said Garland, 69, of Vernon.
Bob adds: “I am too.”
For his heroic efforts that day, Garland was honoured with the Vital Link Award Monday.
“Bystander CPR is the most important there is,” said Martin Hennigar, B.C. Ambulance Service Armstrong unit chief. “What Dave did is basically save (Bob’s) life.”
Hennigar, the paramedic who responded to the 911 call, presented Garland the award in front of everyone who assisted that day – store owner Lisa Holmes who called 911, emergency medical dispatcher Denise Reimer who took the call, paramedic Lynne Chisholm who attended with Hennigar and the Wine and Brew staff who helped keep the situation calm.
“It was a store effort,” said the speechless Garland as he was surprised with the honour Monday at the shop.
While Bob still doesn’t know what caused him to collapse, the healthy senior is eternally grateful to Garland, the staff and paramedics who were on scene within three minutes of the call.
And his wife Barbara, who since learned CPR, now encourages everyone to get to know the vital technique.
“It’s so important that everybody knows those skills,” she said. “Who knows when you’re going to need it.”
While Bob is one of the lucky ones who was successfully resuscitated, the fact is, not everyone is so fortunate.
BCAS attends between 2,400 to 2,800 cardiac arrest calls each year, approximately 250 of which are in the Interior.
Fewer than 12 per cent of people who have cardiac arrest survive.
But a cardiac arrest victim is four times more likely to survive if they receive bystander CPR.
However this basic procedure is not performed in approximately 85 per cent of all cardiac arrest cases.
Seeing what a difference CPR made in saving Bob, Holmes was also adamant in ensuring all her staff were trained and up to date in their CPR.
“Right away I closed the shop the following weekend and called St. John Ambulance and said we need to upgrade,” said Holmes.
