Calgary First Aid: How Quick Action and CPR Saved a Man Who “Died” for 10 Minutes
Her words are a reminder of why learning CPR is so important. When cardiac arrest strikes, every second counts—and most cardiac emergencies happen at home, before paramedics arrive.A Fast Response Makes All the Difference
When 59-year-old Dan Boow felt a heavy pressure in his chest while watching TV, he knew something was wrong. Minutes later, he would go into full cardiac arrest—flat-lining for 10 minutes—before being brought back to life by a team of fast-acting Essex-Windsor paramedics.
A month after the incident, Boow and his partner Sherry Polkosnik reunited with the first responders who saved him. The emotional meeting took place at Devonshire Mall during Paramedic Services Week, where Essex-Windsor EMS had set up an information booth to raise awareness about emergency care.
“You’re Watching Someone You Love Slip Away”
For Polkosnik, the memory is still raw.“It was traumatic, trust me,” she recalled. “You’re watching someone you love in front of you and you can’t do anything about it. I just felt really helpless.”
Paramedics Jeff Culver, Matt Titus, and Goran Glisic were returning to their LaSalle station when the call came in about chest pain.
Boow recalled:
“I didn’t feel too good, felt heavy in the chest… They were there instantly. It was just very fortunate they were so close by.”
Just moments later, after being placed in a carry chair, he lost consciousness—his heart had stopped.
Switching Into Life-Saving Mode
As Boow collapsed, Culver was preparing the hospital for their arrival by phone. He was called back urgently when Boow’s heart stopped entirely.
“At that point everything switches gears,” Culver said.
The paramedics began CPR immediately to keep blood circulating and followed with defibrillation to shock his heart back to rhythm. It took an agonizing 8–10 minutes to regain a pulse.
They rushed him to the hospital—but Boow flat-lined again inside the ambulance.
When Polkosnik arrived, expecting the worst, she was stunned to find Boow sitting upright and making jokes.
“They are just totally amazing,” she said. “They deserve all the credit in the world.”
A Rare and Remarkable Recovery
Surviving 10 minutes without a pulse is extraordinary. Recovering with no long-term damage is even more rare.
Culver highlighted the significance:
“The longer somebody is without a pulse, the less likely you can resuscitate them—or that they’ll return to a normal life. It’s really impressive what’s happened here.”
Today, Boow says he hasn’t felt this good in years.
What This Story Teaches Us
Dan Boow’s story is more than a feel-good headline—it’s a powerful example of how immediate action saves lives.
Key takeaways:
Recognizing heart attack symptoms early is crucial
Calling 911 immediately can double or triple survival chances
CPR keeps blood flowing during cardiac arrest
AED shocks help restart the heart when CPR alone isn’t enough
This is exactly why CPR and first aid training is so important for everyday people—not just medical professionals.
Learn CPR. Save a Life.
Emergencies happen suddenly. Training helps you stay calm, act quickly, and make a life-saving difference.
If you want to be prepared, consider taking one of our CPR & AED training courses in Calgary:
👉 LaSalle man meets the paramedics who brought him back from the dead
Original Source
This article was adapted from a news story published by the Windsor Star.
Read the original full article here:
👉 https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/lasalle-man-meets-the-paramedics-who-brought-him-back-from-the-dead
Helpful Resources
NHS – Heart Attack Information
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heart-attackNHS – How to Perform CPR
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/first-aid/cprCPR Overview (Wikipedia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiopulmonary_resuscitation
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