3 Amazing Ottawa first aid stories

  There are many amazing first aid stories throughout the world. Here are a few of our favourites from Ottawa and Gatineau. These stories focus on people that received their first aid training and immediately put it into use. These good Samaritans should be examples for all of us.

1. Car accident coincident

 This Ottawa resident had just finished his compulsorily standard first aid training when he had a chance to put it to use. On his way home after having just completed his companies mandated first aid and CPR-C course, he came across a scene that needed his new skills. This story takes place in Ottawa in the middle of a snowstorm. On his way home during this snowstorm, he came across a car that had slid off the road and skidded into the ditch. As he approached the scene, he started to put what he had learned to action. He was able to ensure that the driver had not sustained any spinal or head injuries. He then proceeded to recruit bystanders to help remove the driver from the vehicle to a safe environment while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. Great job!! Click here to see the full story. We hate to hear of any types of accidents or injuries, but we always love to see someone make use of their first aid skills.

2. Hiking is better with a friend

    An avid hiker, who frequently went on hiking trips throughout Quebec, had to use her first aid skills. She had decided to take the course as she wanted to have better knowledge of what to do when it could take a while before any first responders would arrive on the scene. She had finished the course about a week before the incident. The morning of the hike, she had decided to take a first aid kid. Everything was fresh in her mind.  As she worked her way through the route she had chosen she happened upon a hiker in distress. She was able to help this hiker who was solo that day and unable to continue his trip or make it back. The other hiker had twister his ankle by stepping on the wrong side of a tree root. He ended up getting a bruise on the ankle. In the first aid kit, she was able to help him on the hiking trail and helped him to his car. Another great use of those valuable first aid skills. You never know when you might need them. Shout out for a job well done!!

3. The young and the old

 I wanted to share this story about a younger participant in one of my classes. This young teen found himself using his first aid skills much sooner than he had expected and hoped. A few months after taking his first aid course this individual was at a family gathering celebrating the holidays. While enjoying the festivities and shortly after dinner his grandfather told everyone that he wasn’t feeling well and that he was going to go lie down for a bit. Our young hero found this strange and out of character for his grandfather. As the rest of the people there quickly brushed it off, something was nagging at this young teen. He eventually went to check on his grandfather. Upon talking with his Grandfather, he found out that his chest was hurting although his grandfather assured him it was just severe heart burn. Our stories main character was observant, however and noticed that he seemed to be experiencing shortness of breath. This is when the grandson leapt into action. He deduced that his grandfather was having a heart attack and quickly called 9-1-1. He then recommended that his grandfather take aspirin and stayed with him until the paramedics arrived. I am happy to state that this story has a positive ending all thanks to the quick action and thinking of this individual. Saving lives. Just another reason to take first aid.