We will be reporting on lives saved around the world since our first documented life saved here in Singapore.
Ms. McGowan, age 43, had just arrived at her job at a D’Arcy Street industry on Dec. 4 when she collapsed just inside the building.
“All I remember is walking up the back alley and sitting in the chair,” Ms. McGowan said.
Cobourg Fire Department Captain Chris Brown said his shift — himself, firefighter Bryan Blaind and Sir Sandford Fleming pre-service firefighting co-op student Matt Raithby– received a “standard medical call” reporting a woman had fainted.
Firefighters arrived before paramedics and found Ms. McGowan was not breathing and had no pulse.
“For all intents and purposes, this patient was dead,” Capt. Brown said.
“We started CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and we used our defibrillator. Once we shocked, we verified there wasn’t a pulse, so we th CPR.”
Capt. Brown believes Ms. McGowan was shocked at least three times.
“I believe it was around the third shock (that) the patient actually opened her eyes and started to become conscious again,” he said.
“If it wasn’t for their response so quick, and my coworkers, I wouldn’t be here today,” Ms. McGowan said. “It could have been the end.”
Jean and William Livingstone say they can’t thank the emergency responders enough for saving their daughter’s life.
“They are super around here. If it wasn’t for them, she wouldn’t be here,” Mr. Livingstone said. “They don’t get enough thanks. The fire department, the paramedics, the police department — they all don’t get enough thanks.”
