On the evening of April 25, 2024, Trail’s Nylan LaFreniere had just gotten off work when he began complaining of chest pain.
His wife, Rosalyn, decided to drive him to the hospital. While en route, Nylan vomited and became unresponsive. Rosalyn pulled into the parking lot of Waneta Plaza and called 911.
She pulled her husband from the passenger seat onto the ground, and began CPR until paramedics arrived. Rosalyn’s life-saving actions took place in the dark in the middle of a severe rainstorm.
Today, Nylan joined his wife and their kids and other family members as Rosalyn received a Vital Link Award from BC Emergency Health Services.
Jordan Batchelor, a paramedic and unit chief in Castlegar, was part of the crew that responded to the call. He nominated Rosalyn and presented the award to her at the ambulation station in Trail.
“Rosalyn gave Nylan a chance at survival because she acted quickly and courageously,” Batchelor said.
“Rosalyn’s quick thinking, unwavering strength and determination in such challenging conditions is a remarkable example of what it means to be a vital link in the chain of survival. Thanks to her, Nylan received life-saving care he needed in those critical early moments, and we are grateful to have him here with us today.
“As paramedics and dispatchers, we rarely get an opportunity to reunite with our patients, so it’s an honour indeed.”
Several others who were involved in the call were also on hand for the ceremony, including the medical dispatcher and fellow paramedics.
Rosalyn said she had taken training in child CPR, “and then it just kind of clicked in and the nice lady from [BC Emergency Health Services] walked me through it all and she was with me the whole time … I thank everybody so much. It was my worst night ever and it turned out with the best outcome.”
Rosalyn adds the incident demonstrates the importance of CPR skills.
“I never would have thought that was going to happen. I never thought that I’d ever have to do that, especially to my husband. And I’m very thankful that I knew what to do, and I just went in and actually did it.”
Vital Link Awards honour the skilful actions of bystanders who perform CPR during a cardiac arrest emergency, often with help over the phone from emergency medical call takers. Nominations are made by BC Emergency Health Services staff and presented to recipients throughout the province.
Batchelor said over 60,000 Canadians suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year. CPR or use of an automated defibrillator can improve the chance of survival by up to 50 per cent. For every minute that passes without help, the chance of survival drops by 10 per cent.
“While it may seem intimidating to do CPR and apply [a defibrillator], it is not and is easy to learn,” Batchelor said. “Learning CPR is a selfless gift everyone can give to loved ones and strangers alike.”
Courses are available through Selkirk College.
(CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story suggested Rosalyn spoke with a 911 dispatcher. In fact, all 911 calls for ambulances are put through to BC Emergency Health Services. For calls like this ones, an emergency medical call taker stays on the line and walks callers through providing bystander CPR.)
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