‘I’m just happy that I answered my door:’ Nanaimo woman provides lifesaving first aid

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The boy was begging and pleading for help.

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He was in such shock, he couldn’t immediately recite his home address.

Pye found the patient laying face down in a small bathroom struggling to breathe.

On the line with a 911 dispatcher, Pye was told she needed to flip the man over in order to help his breathing.

With the patient faintly gasping for air, Pye launched into a series of chest compressions.

CPR lasted for several minutes.

“I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the dispatcher, she was amazing, she hyped me up, she counted with me, she motivated me, she kept me going when I was getting tired.”

Pye was encouraged to shift her weight to help her continue chest compressions.

A team of several paramedics then arrived on scene, followed by Nanaimo Fire Rescue and RCMP.

“I remember just the relief of the sirens coming, it was just a huge wave of relief,” Pye reflected during a sit-down interview with NanaimoNewsNOW.

When paramedics arrived, Pye said it appeared the patient responded positively to being jolted by a defibrillator.

She then went outside to comfort the boy.

Pye has been in contact with the boy’s mother, who reported the patient’s condition has been improving in hospital.

Unable to fall back asleep, Pye has repeatedly replayed the startling incident in her head.

“Did I flip him over fast enough? Did I do chest compressions well enough,” Pye said.

Ironically, Pye had already signed up for a First Aid course offered by the City of Nanaimo, which takes place in two weeks.

The former Navy reserve estimates it had been about a decade since she last had formal First Aid training and had wanted to refresh her skills.

Pye said even just a basic understanding of first aid can go a long way in improving health outcomes.

Her response triggered an important safety consideration.

“Especially parents, I would encourage people to consider getting a land line for emergencies. In this case, the boy wasn’t able to find the cell phone and he wasn’t able to call 911,” Pye said, who pointed out sometimes cell phones die, or could be in a range of locations.

The patient’s cell phone was underneath his body as he laid on the bathroom floor.

Saying there was no thought to her response this past weekend, Pye applauded the actions of the brave boy.

Her door was the fourth one he knocked on.

Pye said with several elderly neighbours in her area who likely wouldn’t have been able to roll the man over, she was pleased to be able to respond.

She’s not convinced she would have responded if not for her security video feed.

“I’m just happy that I answered my door, I’m happy I was home, I’m happy my daughter was not home, and I’m just really glad I was able to help.”

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