A doctor driving by the Edmonton Marathon on Sunday rushed to help a man who collapsed and ceases to breathe just blocks away from the finish line.
The man was resuscitated by Dr. Tamara Kuzma who rushed from her vehicle to help a police officer and administer CPR. According to a spokesperson at Alberta Health Services and race organizers, they did not have any information on the status of the man.
Unforeseen crisis
According to a witness Courtney Repchinsky, he was running toward the finish line of the half-marathon when he collapsed on the road face first. She was viewing the race from the corner.
Kuzma was in her vehicle waiting to cross Jasper Avenue when she saw the man in his 20s lying on the ground. There was a police officer with him. After the man did not move for about 15 seconds, she decided to help.
Time to act
Kuzma who is a doctor in Saskatoon said that the man was not responding so she and the police officer checked his pulse and initially found a heartbeat. But he is still motionless and so they checked again, and he ceased to breathe. Kuzma performed CPR for 30 seconds before the man started to breathe again. The police officer had called for an ambulance.
Upon the arrival of the emergency team, they took over the situation. The man was placed on a stretcher and brought to a healthcare facility.
Be ready to save a life by enrolling in a first aid course
Prompt delivery of CPR and using an AED can save a life. If you want to be prepared during emergencies, it is recommended to enroll in a first aid course today.
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LEARN MORE
Learn how to help by enrolling in a first aid training class and for more information, check out these sources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/first-aid/cpr
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiopulmonary_resuscitation
https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-cpr/basics/art-20056600