Winnipeg, MB - Today, Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Chief John Lane presented citizen Andrea Warzel with a Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service Citizen Recognition Award for her role in assisting her father Tony Warzel, who went into cardiac arrest after a jog on Monday, June 2, 2014.
“Andrea’s calmness under pressure was incredible, and is a big reason why our firefighters and paramedics were able to restore circulation to Mr. Warzel’s heart,” said WFPS Chief John Lane. “Young people like Andrea are a great example of how important it is to educate your kids on phoning 911 in a quick, calm manner.”
Tony’s medical emergency occurred after his Monday morning jog. After returning from his run, 47-year-old Tony collapsed in his home office and went into cardiac arrest. His daughter, 14-year-old Andrea, found her father and quickly phoned 911. Andrea remained on the phone with the dispatcher, and effectively relayed instructions to her mother, Susan Warzel, to perform CPR on Tony.
Andrea and Susan continued performing CPR on Tony until paramedics and firefighters arrived. The emergency responders defibrillated Tony twice in order to restore a more normal heartbeat. Tony had suffered a heart attack, which caused his heart to stop beating properly.
After restoring his pulse, paramedics contacted the cardiologist at St. Boniface General Hospital. Tony was transported there for immediate cardiac catheterization, meaning a stent was placed in his chest to open up blocked blood vessels in his heart. Thanks to his quick-acting daughter and wife, and the emergency responders and medical team, Tony has recovered and is doing well today.
“I’m so proud of my daughter, and so impressed with how she talked to dispatchers and helped her mother perform CPR,” said Tony Warzel. “If not for my wife, Andrea, and the emergency responders, my medical emergency could have had a very different outcome.”
It’s important to teach your kids what to do in an emergency situation. When calling 911, it’s important that kids know the following:
- The address of the emergency location. Without this information emergency responders may not be able to respond in a timely manner.
- The phone number you are calling from in case the call is disconnected and the telecommunicator needs to call you back.
- Information on why you need police, fire or ambulance assistance. This information will better help the telecommunicator determine which emergency service should respond to your call.
Things to remember when calling 911 are:
- Stay focused and remain calm so you can assist both the telecommunicator/communications operator and any patients or bystanders involved in the emergency.
- Answer all of the telecommunicator’s questions to the best of your ability. By clearly answering you will help the telecommunicator better understand the emergency situation.
- Help is typically already on the way while you are speaking with the telecommunicator; their questions are not delaying the response.
- Remain on the line until the telecommunicator advises that you can disconnectâ�"do not hang up.
- Be aware that emergency responders are dispatched to emergencies based on priority.
- Citizens who are required to dial an area code for outgoing calls should note that an area code is not required when dialing 911.
More information on calling 911 and on the WFPS is available at winnipeg.ca/fps.