A London man who nearly died of a heart attack in his driveway earlier this year is giving back to the community and honouring the two city sanitation workers who saved him.
Doug Cairns donated an automatic external defibrillator (AED) to the London Public Library on Wednesday.
The plaque on the AED states it is in honour of Chris Lynch and John Sweitzer, the men who performed CPR and called paramedics when the 67-year-old collapsed while shovelling snow on March 7.
The plaque on the AED Doug Cairns donated to the London Public Library.
Cairns had just said hello to Lynch and Sweitzer as they collected garbage in his residential neighbourhood when he suddenly felt nauseous. It was the last thing he remembers feeling before he passed out. The two men, who had trained together as firefighters, quickly sprang into action. One performed CPR, while the other called 911 and got Cairns' wife.
"I was obviously quite glad to be alive and felt that this was a very heroic thing for these guys to have done and I wanted to honour them in some way," said Cairns. "My wife and I talked and thought that putting a defibrillator in a public place where it didn't currently exist would be an appropriate way to memorialize the event."
Since AEDs are already in all London community centres and arenas and since he is an avid reader, Cairns selected the Central Library on Dundas St. for his donation.
"I was surprised that they weren't already there and thought that it would be a perfect place for one," said Cairns.
AEDs dramatically increase a heart attack victim’s chance of survival when administered shortly after a cardiac arrest. The device sends an electric current to the heart, allowing it to re-establish a normal rhythm. The portable machines typically cost about $2,000 each.
Lynch and Sweitzer were touched by Cairns' generous donation and were on hand for Wednesday's dedication ceremony.
"It is a really nice gesture," said Lynch. "We can bring our kids here and show them the AED and plaque - that we helped save a life."
The pair's heroic actions were previously recognized by the city with an award presentation on the steps of city hall.
"We were just at the right place at the right time and it worked out," said a modest Sweitzer.
In light of Cairns' donation, Library officials have decided to place an AED in each of the 16 branches. The Central Library will have an AED on each floor.
"It's been a three, almost four-year mission to get these units into the library," said Miranda Bothwell, public education coordinator for Middlesex London Paramedic Service. "Once we were able to secure that Cairns was able to make this donation here, the library contacted us and they said 'you know what, we would like to purchase 18 additional units to place into all of our branches to keep it consistent.' It was amazing."
The AEDs will be installed at each library branch by next week.