NEW GLASGOW - She's an ordinary high school student, but last weekend Jennifer Parsons did something extraordinary.
Parsons, a New Glasgow resident and Grade 11 student at North Nova Education Centre, was at the Brookside curling rink in River Hebert with her school's curling team last Friday for a regional tournament.
The team was preparing for their game against Port Hawkesbury when a man seated in the stands collapsed.
"We were out on the ice when we noticed people were moving chairs, trying to make space. This man, who was in the audience, had just lost consciousness," she says.
The team was told to return to a locker room, but Parsons decided to stay behind because of her CPR training.
"No one knew CPR," she says, adding that there were about seven or eight people surrounding the man at the time. "I decided to help."
Parsons, who was trained in CPR while taking a lifeguard course at the New Glasgow YW-YMCA, took control of the situation.
"They said he had no pulse and he wasn't breathing." Parsons and another volunteer performed CPR, with Parsons giving the directions, until medical first responders arrived.
"You never think you're going to have to use your CPR training in a real-life situation," Parsons says. "But I was calmer than I ever thought I would be. I was able to use my training to help that man."
The man, a resident of Joggins, near River Hebert, had gone into cardiac arrest. Medical first responders, eight members from the River Hebert fire department, arrived shortly after 11 a.m. and began delivering cardiac defibrillation to the man.
River Hebert fire chief George Rector, who was one of the first responders on the scene after the 911 call was made, commended Parsons and the second individual (who has not been identified) for their quick actions in performing CPR.
"Her actions and the actions from the other (individual) were just A-1," Rector said.
After taking over the scene, "We had to shock him three times with the defibrillator but had him breathing on his own until EHS arrived."
Emergency Health Services responders arrived shortly afterwards. The man was then transported to Cumberland Regional Hospital, and later moved to the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in Halifax, where he is listed in stable condition.
He is expected to be released from the hospital in a few days.
Colin Flynn, operations supervisor for Emergency Health Services, Amherst district, emphasizes the importance of early CPR and defibrillation.
"It's been proven that early CPR and early defibrillation makes a difference for patients in cardiac arrest," Flynn says. "We're quite proud that this young lady recognized that the gentleman was having a cardiac arrest, and that she took steps to try and help him."
He adds, CPR can mean the difference between life and death in an emergency situation.
"Without (Parson's) efforts, his chances of survival would have greatly diminished with every passing second," Flynn says. "The difference between this gentleman's life and death rested squarely in her hands."
cmcintyre@ngnews.ca
LIFESAVER
LIFESAVER
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- Published on March 6, 2008
- Published on December 30, 2009
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Cait MacIntyre
NEW GLASGOW - She's an ordinary high school student, but last weekend Jennifer Parsons did something extraordinary.
Parsons, a New Glasgow resident and Grade 11 student at North Nova Education Centre, was at the Brookside curling rink in River Hebert with her school's curling team last Friday for a regional tournament.
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- Cindy
- - January 18, 2010 at 14:33:12
Hats off to Jennifer and the others who helped save this man's life. You were angels at the right place at the right time. The story brought tears to my eyes, and I believe that teenagers don't get all the wonderful credit that they deserve, the greater number of good and positive thinking teenagers out count the bad 1000 to 1. We need to recognize the goodness in our teenagers more often.
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- Randy
- - January 18, 2010 at 14:22:59
Excellent job young lady! You are a special person!
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- Sara
- - January 18, 2010 at 14:22:55
way to go little sis! i am verrrrrrrry proud of you ^.^
it's really lucky you were there! -
- Al
- - January 18, 2010 at 14:01:27
What a great story to start the day! I nominate this young woman for a medal for her clear-headed use of CPR.
It also highlights the great importance of First Aid and CPR Training . I did a refresher course a fews weeks ago, and I was appalled how much had slipped away from my memory banks!
As well as paying tribute to Jennifer, I also want to say thanks to the CPR Instructors. The one I have had twice now is just superb. Ross --- you know who I mean!
Lots of heroes in this story. -
- Dave
- - January 18, 2010 at 13:45:54
AWESOME JOB Jennifer!!! Great story!
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- David
- - January 18, 2010 at 13:39:32
one stroy like this makes all the diffrance in the world I teach First Aid and CPR and this shows me how important it is that I keep teaching CPR and First Aid Thanks you for the efforts and showing one person can make change things also thanks you for acting Jennifer
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- Laurie
- - January 18, 2010 at 13:10:46
Way to go everyone!!! Especially Jennifer! Goes to show that you can always trust that your instincts will guide you when you have the training to back it up.
Get out and get your CPR courses everyone! -
- Phil
- - January 18, 2010 at 12:59:02
Great Story! Jennifer you can hold your head high and always know that YOU made a difference in someones life.As a medical first responder and firefighter in a rural community I can tell you that having the proper training and the ability to act quickly in a situation like this is paramount. Witnessing a heart attack can be one of the most traumatic experiences anyone can have. I would know first hand as my wife suffered a massive heart attack on christmas day 2004. If I had not recieved my training she would not be here. I was able to perform CPR long enough until help arrived. It was without exception the most terrifiying experience of my life!
It just goes to show you that you never know when one may need that training.
I commend you and your friend for acting and making the difference!
I would also encourage all who read this to take a first aid/CPR course and keep your training current. -
- David
- - January 18, 2010 at 12:53:38
Awsome job!
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- Valerie
- - January 18, 2010 at 12:53:25
Way to go Jennifer!! From being at the scene, I know how scary it was. Although some of of us has CPR training, it was a few years for most (I'm doing my re-cert this spring). You remained calm and directed some very nervous adults, a feat in and of itself, to perform a life saving procedure, that without any doubt, saved this man's life. Cudos as well to the lady from Malagash and the gentleman from the River Hebert Curling Club that did the compressions and mouth-tomouth. It was excellent to see people willing to step forward and do whatever they could to help - especially a teenager. The confidence and calmness that you demonstrated at this scene will do you well in life, Jennifer. On the ride home, the girls from our team (the Dr JH Gillis Royals) said you were their Maritimer of the Week. Amen to the local volunteers in the community as well. First responders rock! They have a very difficult position of being volunteers walking (OK, in most cases running) into any number of emergency situations, and their dedication to helping others in their communities in second to none. Also great to hear that the gentleman is doing well and will be home soon. He's been on our mind and in our prayers all week.
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- wayne
- - January 18, 2010 at 12:49:24
maybe some of the nat sayers about our youth of today will step up to the plate and give three cheers for the young women instead of somthing negative.
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- Steve
- - January 18, 2010 at 12:35:15
Valerie, good idea, someone should contact Live at 5 to nominate Jennifer for Maritimer of the Week!
I hope those portable defibrillators start showing up everywhere a first aid kit is present.
Awesome job, Jennifer!
