September 22, 2017 started as a regular day for parents, children and educators at the Thamesville and Area Early Learning Centre, a day care centre located in Thamesville, Ontario.
As the day was underway and children were engaged in activities, Early Childhood Educator Trish Jones noticed something wrong with one of the children.
14-month-old Sarah Haven was choking and having difficulty breathing.
That’s when Jones, acting on her training in First Aid & CPR jumped into action, applying her learned skills and knowledge to save little Sarah’s life.
Yesterday, Fire Paramedic Chief, Ken Stuebing and Assistant Chief of EMS, Scott Ramey attended Thamesville and Area Early Learning Centre to present a Chatham-Kent Fire & Emergency Services – Citizen’s Action Award to Jones for her quick action as a community member in saving a life or helping in a time of emergency.
Sarah’s mother Shannon Havens expressed her immense gratitude and appreciation for Jones and the Thamesville and Area Learning Centre.
“Everyone needs to know first aid and CPR, you don’t know when you may have to save someone’s life”, she said.
I’m “extremely thankful for the actions of Trish.”
Chief Stuebing emphasized how important citizen first responders are in contributing to helping people in those minutes until professional help arrives.
“We have excellent Paramedics and Fire Fighters in Chatham-Kent, but in cases like Sarah with a blocked airway no response is fast enough and often it is people like Patricia who make a difference,” he said.
Assistant Chief Ramey said he would like to recommend that everyone in Chatham-Kent take the opportunity to receive first aid, CPR and AED training through one of many local providers.
“Our citizens who are present during emergencies can make a difference in life and death by activating 911, learning first aid and CPR, and taking action to help in an emergency,” he said.
