Harold Cox is the luckiest man alive today.
He died and came back to life.
Most people who have massive heart attacks never get a second chance.
Cox was fortunate that his cardiac arrest occurred in the Oliver arena where they have an automated external defibrillator (AED).
His fellow hockey players were not about to let him die, and they proved that anyone can do CPR and use an AED to save a life.
Audrie Cox, Harold’s wife, is a lucky woman to see her beloved again.
It reminds me of another Audrey who wasn’t so lucky. She was making her husband Donald a sandwich in the kitchen when he had a massive heart attack. He was dead before he hit the floor. Audrey performed CPR, but to no avail, and although an AED was on its way, it was too late.
The really sad thing about this incident was Audrey never got to say goodbye to her husband. His children and grandchildren never got to say goodbye to him – that big teddy bear.
Looking at technology today, it’s amazing how far medicine and emergency services have come.
Years ago we didn’t have the 9-1-1 system or machines that could bring someone back to life at the push of a button.
It’s refreshing to see the AED being installed in more public facilities every year. And they are so easy to use that even a child can operate one.
Yes, it’s a scary ordeal, but it’s amazing what you can do during a crisis.
I leave you with a light-hearted look at what 9-1-1 dispatchers have to deal with every day.
Although the vast majority of people use 9-1-1 responsibly, there are countless jaw-dropping examples of absurd calls.
E-Comm, the 9-1-1 emergency communication centre for southwest BC, handles more than 2,500 calls a day.
Last year the top 9-1-1 nuisance call was: “I’d like to speak to someone about renting a fire truck to block off a street for a party.”
Another caller wanted to know his date’s contact number so he could confirm the details of their outing.
Another called 9-1-1 to report a missed newspaper delivery.
One person asked if it was okay to drive in the HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lane because traffic was backed up and he was late for a meeting.
But wait, there’s more.
“I threw my phone in the garbage can and can’t get it out.”
Someone asked the dispatcher for a morning wake-up call.
And another: “Can an officer come over to tell my kids to go to bed?”
Or how about: “My son won’t give me the remote control.”
Lyonel Doherty, editor
