Wal-Mart Employee Receives Red Cross Rescuer Award
The Canadian Red Cross has recognized a Wal-Mart employee for his quick thinking and compassion, by presenting him with a Red Cross Rescuer Award.
On Sept. 10, 2008, Mike Theriault and his family were driving along a busy highway when a van travelling in the opposite direction lost control and crossed the median. While Theriault was able to swerve and avoid a collision, the SUV behind him was hit head-on and quickly burst into flames. Theriault pulled over, ensured his family was fine, called 9-1-1 and proceeded to pull the occupants from the SUV and brought them a safe distance from the engulfed vehicle.
“I was really just trying to do the right thing and I’m sure that others in my situation would have done the same,” said Theriault.
Theriault, a district loss prevention manager for District #7 GTA East for Wal-Mart Canada, received the award in front of several hundred colleagues as his wife and two young sons looked on. It was a fellow Wal-Mart employee who nominated Theriault for the award, after hearing about what happened.
“Mike’s actions show that anyone can be a hero if they think fast, have compassion for others and know what to do in an emergency situation,” said Janine Bain, first aid program representative with the Canadian Red Cross. “Because of him, several people are alive and well today.”
The Canadian Red Cross Rescuer Award is presented to non-professional or off-duty first responders who have volunteered to save a life, prevented further injury and/or provided comfort to the injured.
The Canadian Red Cross trains more than 470,000 Canadians each year in first aid and CPR.
