It was a day the family won’t forget.
Breana Jones, a nurse, and her fiancé Jamie Bell of Aldergrove were staying with Brenda’s parents at their cottage in the North Shuswap on May 28, 2011. Her father, Brett Jones, collapsed in cardiac arrest.
“No amount of teaching or nursing in the world can prepare you for that situation,” said Breana, recalling her response at the moment her father stopped breathing. When BC Ambulance Service (BCAS) paramedics April Hames and Andrew Stanley arrived on scene, they found Breana in calm control, using her nursing skills.
“I asked them if they wanted me to start an IV,” says Breana.
“Breana and Jamie were really impressive,” said Hames. “They took direction from us and continued with CPR until we had a pulse back. They did everything we needed to help Brett all the way through 27 minutes of cardiac arrest. He’s back at work now and has made a full recovery with no neurological damage.”
On Saturday, April 21, paramedics from Chase gathered in Kamloops for a Vital Link Award ceremony to recognize Breana and her fiancé for their life-saving actions.
The BC Ambulance Service Community Awards are to recognize the significant contributions made by citizens during medical emergencies. BCAS presents approximately 50 community awards each year, the Vital Link Award going to individuals who perform bystander CPR which leads to the patient’s survival and recovery from cardiac arrest.
BCAS Kamloops District Paramedic Supervisor Troy Clifford also recognized the team of paramedics that responded to the emergency, including the BCAS dispatcher, the first paramedics on the scene and the BCAS critical care paramedics responsible for transporting Brett from Kamloops to Vancouver by air ambulance for further treatment.
Brett attended the ceremony with his wife Shirley Jones who made the 911 emergency call.
“Jamie is definitely my favourite of Breana’s boyfriends,” said Brett of the newly engaged couple. “We both survived his initiation into the family.”
Jamie is certified in first aid.
BCAS responds to between 2,400 and 2,800 cardiac arrest calls each year. Approximately 250 are in the B.C. Interior. Fewer than 10 per cent of people who have a cardiac arrest survive.