Two islanders have received top honours in a Metro Vancouver-wide community hero contest for taking Bowen residents’ safety to heart.
Bawn Campbell and Amanda Ockeloen were instrumental in bringing life-saving devices used in cardiac arrest situations to Bowen this spring.
For their efforts, the altruistic duo earned first place July 7 in a contest organized by Iridia Medical, a Vancouver-based company that provides life-saving equipment and training.
Bowen even beat out Vancouver International Airport, which came in third place in the contest that sought community heroes demonstrating excellence towards public health and safety.
“I was thrilled,” said Ockeloen, of her reaction when she heard news of the award. “It will help continue to raise awareness about these life-saving devices.”
The island is now equipped with eight automated external defibrillators (AEDs) housed in distinct bird-house style enclosures and strategically placed around Bowen in public places, including municipal hall, the library and in the Hood Point area.
Ockeloen, who is a paramedic, explains there is a short window after a heart attack to administer life-saving CPR.
If delivered in the first few minutes of a cardiac arrest, defibrillation in combination with CPR can increase survival rates, according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. But with each passing minute, the probability of survival decreases by seven to 10 per cent.
“It’s the difference between standing there hopelessly and not having a plan versus having the tools and the confidence to jump into action and safe a life,” said Ockeloen, adding AEDs are user friendly with easy-to-follow instructions.
There are plans to install more AEDs in the coming months, possibly at Artisan and Village squares.
A recent Rotary garage sale raised $750 to be put towards the local service club’s Jumpstart program, which is now focusing on educating residents in each neighbourhood with AEDs.
Hearing the time lag between the first responder, the fire truck, and then the ambulance arrive in his neighbourhood half an hour later during an emergency one day, prompted Campbell to take the problem to heart. He went out and bought an AED for his Bluewater neighbourhood.
Campbell said the response time can be lengthy in the more isolated areas of the island.
“It is a concern, the length of the time for somebody to get to it,” said Campbell.
Rotary has agreed to pay for one third of the cost of an AED for 10 units. The rest of the money would come from fundraising for each device.
“Hood Point West paid for it on their own so that another neighbourhood could use the funds,” said Campbell.
Campbell and Ockeloen are humbled by the Iridia award and are appreciative for the overall support from Islanders for the AED program.
“It shows what a caring community this is,” said Campbell.
