Oct. 28 – The biggest assist of Matt Breedyk’s hockey season came last week, during the first game of the year.
That’s when the Port Dover resident – and off-duty Norfolk County paramedic – came to the aid of a teammate undergoing cardiac arrest.
“I just saw the individual collapse on the ice, and I knew it wasn’t just a slip and fall,” says Breedyk. “So I jumped over the boards, told the ref to call 911 and got to work.”
That’s when Breedyk felt around for a pulse – and couldn’t find one.
Two Norfolk County Fire Department volunteers (Mike and Joe Archer) who also happened to be playing that night began CPR, while Breedyk prepared to use a public access defibrillator.
The device – which can be found in most County buildings – delivers a jolt of energy to the heart, allowing it to re-establish a normal rhythm. It can also walk new users through the process.
After using the defibrillator, Breedyk heard his teammate begin to breathe, and felt the return of a pulse. That’s when an ambulance arrived and on-duty paramedics took over.
“Having easy access to a defibrillator saved a life that night,” says the ten-year veteran of Norfolk County’s Paramedic Services. “It wouldn’t have mattered if there were trained individuals around or not – without that device, things would have been much different.”
Paramedic Services Chief Sarah Page says she’s incredibly proud of the work Breedyk did that night.
“Together with his colleagues in the Fire Department, Matt took swift action that saved a life,” she says. “Norfolk County is lucky to have paramedics like him who perform this kind of work day in and day out.”
It’s not the first time this year that a Norfolk County paramedic has been recognized for going above and beyond in the community.
In September, Samantha Pacheco was honoured with the Governor General’s Exemplary Service Medal, presented to long-time paramedics who have shown the highest standards of good conduct.
