Sanitation Workers Save Man’s Life With Fast CPR After Sudden Cardiac Arrest
When cardiac emergencies strike without warning, survival depends on how quickly someone begins CPR. For Doug Cairns, collapsing in his own driveway could have been fatal—if not for two City of London sanitation workers who acted immediately and confidently.
Their story is a powerful reminder of why CPR and first aid training are essential for everyone.
A Routine Day Turns Into a Lifesaving Rescue
Sanitation workers Chris Lynch and John Sweitzer were completing their regular collection route when Sweitzer noticed something alarming: the man he had greeted minutes earlier was now collapsed in his driveway, bleeding from the head and unresponsive.
“I ran over and asked if he was alright—there was no response,” Sweitzer recalled.
Lynch, a trained volunteer firefighter with Middlesex Centre Fire Services, immediately recognized the signs of cardiac arrest and sprang into action.
The two longtime coworkers—who once trained together as firefighters—began administering CPR while waiting for paramedics to arrive.
“We were at the right place at the right time,” Lynch said. “It ended up working out. He made it.”
Within minutes, paramedics arrived, stabilized Cairns, and transported him to the hospital.
A Remarkable Survival
Cairns regained consciousness inside the ambulance with four broken ribs—damage commonly associated with proper CPR—but grateful to be alive.
“I’m happy to be alive,” he said. “Had they not been there and been CPR trained, I don’t think I’d be alive.”
Before the collapse, Cairns had been shoveling his driveway. He remembers feeling suddenly nauseous before losing consciousness.
What amazed him most?
“To me, the most amazing thing was that they were CPR trained—what are the chances of that?”
Reuniting With His Rescuers
After being released from hospital, Cairns tracked down Lynch and Sweitzer so he could thank them personally.
“Thank you for saving my life,” he said simply—words he had been waiting to say since the incident.
The three men later reunited at London City Hall, where the sanitation workers were formally recognized for their heroic actions.
Cairns, now part of the fortunate 5% who survive out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, says the experience was a “wake-up call” for him and his family.
“It’s motivated my wife and me to get CPR trained so we can help someone the way they helped me.”
Why CPR Training Matters
Cardiac arrest can happen anywhere—to anyone.
With survival dropping 10% every minute without CPR, trained bystanders are often the deciding factor.
Early CPR + early AED use = lives saved.
You don’t need to be a firefighter or paramedic.
You just need training—and the confidence to begin CPR when it matters most.
Be Prepared. Learn CPR & First Aid Today
Whether at home, at work, or out in the community, you could be the difference between life and death.
Register for First Aid & CPR Courses in Calgary:
https://firstaidcalgary.ca/
Training safety measures include:
-
Reduced class sizes
-
2m physical distancing
-
Mandatory masks
-
Temperature screening
-
Enhanced cleaning and sanitization
Original News Source
CBC News – How 2 London sanitation workers saved a man’s life
https://www.cbc.ca/news/
Serving Calgary and the surrounding areas the lowest priced, highest quality OH&S approved first aid training, CPR and food safety courses for over 15 years!
Support locally-owned and Canadian-operated businesses, with no partnerships or links with American corporations.