Officers and outreach workers save man’s life

Providing First Aid to people in medical distress is becoming a common part of the job for police officers, which in some cases, saves lives.

Two Mounties with the Community Safety Unit in Kelowna were conducting routine patrols on Monday, Nov. 20 when they were flagged down and asked to help provide First Aid to a person suffering a medical incident at Coronation Avenue and St. Paul Street.

Employees of an outreach support center were already performing life-saving measures on the man and the officers continued with chest compressions and administered two doses of Narcan nasal spray to help the man recover.

“The combined actions of the employees and the RCMP officers, who went above and beyond, are believed to have saved the man’s life as he began to breathe on his own and regain consciousness,” RCMP Const. Mike Della Paolera said.

Paramedics later took the man to hospital for further assessment.

“Today, police officers respond to a wide scope of emergency situations including routinely providing first aid to individuals in medical distress,” Della Paolera stated. “This event continues to demonstrate the RCMP’s commitment to public safety and the necessary partnership with all of our emergency personnel and community partners.”