The survivor of a heart attack at Caesars Windsor tells his story and thanks local emergency crews for saving his life at Survivor Day, hosted by St. Clair College, February 27, 2015. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)The survivor of a heart attack at Caesars Windsor tells his story and thanks local emergency crews for saving his life at Survivor Day, hosted by St. Clair College, February 27, 2015. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)
Windsor

Local Survivors Meeting Saviors

Members of the local EMS, fire and police services are hearing loud 'thank you's from residents whose lives they've saved over the past two years.

A ceremony at the St. Clair Centre for the Arts connected survivors with the teams that kept them alive after they were showing no vital signs.

Gerry Hedges has worked as a paramedic in Windsor-Essex for 29-years and says it's a proud moment. "It's very surreal to see them standing, healthy and happy, as opposed to the first time you meet them, they're experiencing a near-death situation. It's very satisfying to see your hard work pay off, and to see these people go on to live happy and healthy lives."

Hedges says there have been a growing number of survival stories over the last few years because more citizens are becoming trained in CPR, and defibrillators are more common in public facilities.

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