Teachers honoured for saving student in cardiac arrest

Two Okanagan teachers were honoured by B.C. Emergency Health Servicesin Oliver on Tuesdayforhelping save the life of a student who went into cardiac arrest during gym class about a month ago.

South Okanagan Secondary School teachersSteve Podomorow and Mike Russoresuscitated 13-year-old,Dilshaan Dhaliwal, using CPR and an automated external defibrillator or AED.

"[The AED]gave him the best chance he could have possibly had. So, the AED wasparamount in the success of this," saidRusso.

Quick action

During a joint gym classJan. 30with Russo'sGrade 8class and Podomorow's senior class,Dhaliwalcollapsed after a 12 minute run, Podomorowtold Daybreak South host Chris Walker.

The Grade 8student had just handed in his running results to Russo and was walking pastPodomorow,when he went into cardiac arrest.

"I'm the first aid person at the school and checked him out quickly,got 911 on the phoneand started the CPR process," said Russo.

Podomorowsaid the 911 dispatcher stayed on the line with them the entire time, helping them throughoutthe process.

"We had the AED on and starting CPR probably within two to three minutes," said Russo.

He estimates that he performed CPR for about eight or nine minutes.Dhaliwalwas laterflown to the B.C. Children's Hospital for treatment.

AED

"We were very fortunate to have the AED really close by," saidPodomorow. He said the easy accessibility to the defibrillatorhelped them and the paramedics use it quickly.

Russo said he believes the AED, in addition to CPR, saved Dhaliwal's life.

"He was in a shockable rhythmand so when you have the AED there, we can hopefully reset the heart, and it was able to do that," said Russo.

Many schools across the Okanagan have AEDs, but not all do.

The AED atSouth Okanagan Secondary School had been donated by the Advanced Coronary Treatment Foundation.

The North Okanagan-ShuswapSchool District announced last week that it would be adding defibrillators to all of its schools over the next three years.

Award

"[The incident]was definitely somewhat alarming, especially for me, but I thinkwe work well together," said Podomorow.

Russo, who is also a volunteer fireman, and Podomorowwere awarded the Vital Link Award byB.C. Emergency Health Services for their quick actions.

Meanwhile, Podomorowsaid Dhaliwalhas beenrecovering at homebut will have to undergo another procedure.

"We're very excited for his return and hope to see him around here soon," said Podomorow.