Three Kelowna residents were honored with the Vital Link award on Nov. 3 for helping to save a man’s life
The incident occurred when Kevin Trottier suffered a heart attack and crashed his car near Smith Creek in Kelowna in August 2018. He had been mountain biking shortly before the accident happened.
Kayle Trottier (Kevin’s son), Kale Rempel and Nic McLaren stepped in to perform life-saving CPR to keep him alive before paramedics arrived on the scene.
According to Central Okanagan Public Schools, Kayle and Rempel learned CPR at school the previous spring and despite their relatively recent training, the two friends were able to initiate CPR until they meet McLaren, whose experience in CPR helped to stabilize Kevin until paramedics arrived.
“We are very thankful that Mr. Trottier is doing well,” said Troy White, principal at Kelowna Secondary School. “KSS is extremely proud of Kayle, Kale, and Nic for being able to transfer their CPR and airway obstruction training into action.”
BC Emergency Health Services said it was remarkable how the three men were able to keep Kevin alive, particularly because a persons’ chance of surviving a cardiac arrest drops by about ten per cent each minute the receiver does not have medical help.
The three received the Vital Award on Sunday at Station 341, where they held a small ceremony to thank the three men for their heroic actions.
When Kevin was called up to speak, he got quite emotional, embracing each of the men and letting out a few tears.
The Vital Link Award is presented to citizens who are involved in saving a life through successful CPR efforts.
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