Special recognition of a local hero who helped save a baby's life

Constable Peter Morris and his family. Const. Morris received a Rescue Award from the Red Cross. Constable Peter Morris and his family. Const. Morris received a Rescue Award from the Red Cross.

I had the privilege recently of meeting an everyday hero, Constable Peter Morris, during a special banquet to recognize those in our community who advocate and promote first aid and water safety programs. Const. Morris, of Toronto Police, was recognized with a Rescuer Award – a special honour reserved for those who have stepped up to use their first aid skills to help save a life.

He was recognized for helping to save a one-year-old baby named Jesse who almost drowned in a backyard pond. Const. Morris had just returned home from work and heard his neighbour’s screams from the backyard. He ran toward the screams and found Jesse’s mother, Kristin, performing CPR. He took the near-lifeless baby from her arms and continued CPR until paramedics arrived.

Jesse survived because of the quick actions taken by Const. Morris and Kristin. Baby Jesse’s struggle to recovery has been a long one, but his mother says he is stronger every day. (Click here to read more about baby Jesse's story.) It’s true that Const. Morris is a police officer by day, and that we expect that emergency officials are trained in life-saving skills. However, Const. Morris said that while he was performing CPR on Jesse he was thinking that he never imagined he would ever actually have to do CPR. Despite 18 years on the job, that was the one and only time he used his CPR training.

Yet, his skills were sharp because he updates his training annually.

It’s a reminder of how important it is for each of us to update our first aid skills regularly. Recent polling by the Red Cross indicates that the majority of people who perform CPR will do so on a friend or family member. Updating our first aid/CPR training regularly helps build confidence so that if we ever do need it, we’ll know what to do. Click here to find a first aid/CPR course in your community.

I think Jesse’s mom summed up what many of us were thinking when Const. Morris received his award. “I can’t thank you enough from the bottom of my heart,” she said. “You will always be our hero.”

This week is Water Safety Week and the Canadian Red Cross has tips and info to help you and your family stay safe.

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