Community Involvement
Recent Event
Peel Regional Paramedics Commend Young Mississauga Boy’s Quick Actions
In the early afternoon of January 2, 2009 thirteen-year-old Austin Smith and his eight-year-old sibling were at home having lunch with mom Michele when she began to choke on a piece of meat. The children ran outside and notified a construction worker. After calling 911, the construction worker performed the Heimlich Manoeuvre, but without success.
Now beginning to lose consciousness, Michele was assisted and placed lying down on the front porch floor. Austin suggested that he try and help since he had received some CPR training while completing his Bronze Medallion at a local pool. Austin began to perform chest compressions when a large piece of meat was dislodged and cleared from Michele’s airway.
 |
| Paramedic Jodi Kernichan, 13-year old Austin Smith, his mom Michele and Paramedic Ashley Wang are reunited at the Peel Regional Council meeting on May 14. Austin was presented with a Civilian Commendation by Peel Regional Paramedic Services for his quick actions that saved his mother’s life. |
It was at this point that Peel Regional paramedics Ashley Wang and Jodi Kernichan arrived to find Michele conscious and experiencing shortness of breath. Michele was then placed on a stretcher and taken to Credit Valley Hospital where she made a complete recovery.
As emergency professionals, paramedics know how crucial time is to saving a life – every second counts.
There is no doubt that Austin’s actions saved his mother’s life and for that he was presented with a Civilian Commendation on behalf of Peel Regional Paramedic Services at the recent Peel Regional Council meeting on May 14, 2009.
In an emergency, always call 9-1-1
