Recognition Ceremony Honours Life-Saving Teamwork in Lindsay

Kawartha Lakes - On Monday, August 11, outside the Paramedic Headquarters in Lindsay, members of Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service, Kawartha Lakes Police Service, and the community gathered for a special Recognition Ceremony. The event celebrated a remarkable example of how quick thinking, training, and coordinated teamwork can save a life.

This story is a powerful reminder of the Chain of Survival—a sequence of critical actions proven to dramatically increase the chances of survival for someone experiencing a cardiac arrest. The chain includes:

1. Early recognition and calling 911
2. Immediate, high-quality CPR
3. Rapid defibrillation
4. Advanced resuscitation by emergency medical services
5. Post-cardiac arrest care
6. Recovery support

The incident in focus took place earlier this year, at the Canadian Tire in Lindsay. This location, already a designated Public Access Defibrillation Site, became the scene of a life-saving response when a customer suffered a sudden cardiac arrest just as they entered the store.

It was the Canadian Tire employee, Emma Lees who witnessed the collapse, quickly recognized the emergency, and immediately began CPR. She retrieved and applied the store’s Automated External Defibrillator (AED), successfully completing the first three vital links in the Chain of Survival. Emma’s contributions to the emergency was paramount to the success of this cardiac arrest.

Within minutes, Kawartha Lakes Police, Fire and Paramedic Services arrived on scene and took over control. Paramedic Crew Mike Little, Vera Carlow, and Fran Scott took over advanced care, continuing the chain with life-saving interventions and rapid transport to the hospital.

At the ceremony, Kawartha Lakes Chief of Paramedic Services, Sara Johnston and Deputy Chief, Professional Standards, Jamie Golden expressed their deep gratitude to all involved, noting that without early action and seamless teamwork, the outcome could have been very different. “Your training, your action, and your compassion made the difference”.

Also in attendance—and at the heart of this story—was cardiac arrest survivor Shelly Hunt, whose presence offered living proof of the chain’s power when every link is strong.

This event is a reminder to us all: early intervention and coordinated teamwork don’t just help—they save lives.

Photo Caption:

Left to right: Emma Lees (Canadian Tire Employee), Shelly Hunt (Survivor), Francine Scott (Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service Advance Care Paramedic, Vera Carlow (Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service Primary Care Paramedic) and Mike Little (Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service Advanced Care Paramedic)

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