Eight Calgarians presented with Red Cross Rescuer Awards
This September, the Canadian Red Cross presented its highest lifesaving award to eight Calgarians who helped save a life or provided care and comfort to the injured this past year.
Carol Stueck helped save a man from choking.
2008 Rescuer Award recipients in southern Alberta. Photos courtesy Amanda O'Donoghue.
Michael Savage assisted a colleague having a heart attack/stroke.
Mark Bretherton and Paul Eyles helped save a man injured by a locomotive.
Casey, Darcy, Heather & Bob Peirce helped rescue a couple whose canoe capsized in frigid water.
The Canadian Red Cross Rescuer Awards are presented to non-professional rescuers or off-duty first responders who have: volunteered to save a life; prevented further injury and/or provided comfort to the injured; or are children who were not trained but provided help. Success in the rescue is not mandatory.
Steve Armstrong, Canadian Red Cross regional director, and Merv Chia, regional council president, presented the Rescuer Awards to the everyday heroes while friends, family, Red Cross staff and volunteers looked on.
Rescuer Award recipient Carol Stueck. Photos courtesy Amanda O'Donoghue.
Armstrong says, “Today’s presentation of the Red Cross Rescuer Awards serves as a good reminder that anyone at anytime may be called upon to render assistance or save a life. Having first aid training is one of the best ways to be prepared.”
More than 90% of all injuries are predictable, understandable and preventable. Sadly, unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death for Canadians between the ages of 1 and 44. Being trained in first aid and using these skills in emergency situations can make a difference.
Saturday, September 13, marks World First Aid Day; a day celebrated around the world each year by member Societies of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to promote the importance of first aid in saving lives and preventing injury.
For more than 50 years, the Canadian Red Cross has reduced deaths and suffering through its first aid training programs. Last year, more more than 86,000 people in Alberta took first aid and injury prevention training and gained the knowledge, confidence and skills needed to deal with emergency situations.
Wal-Mart Canada, through its good.works.program is a proud supporter of Canadian Red Cross programs including the Canadian Red Cross
Rescuer Award. For more information on Wal-Mart Canada and their commitment to Canadian communities visit www.walmart.ca.
To learn valuable live saving skills through our Red Cross First Aid and Water Safety training, contact the Red Cross Contact Centre at 1-800-307-7997 or wz-contactcentre@redcross.ca.
