A young Palmerston woman has been recognized by township council and St. John Ambulance for her quick actions credited with saving a child from drowning last summer.
Jacinda Schieck was presented with a recognition plaque from Mapleton, as well as a Lifesaving Certificate from St. John Ambulance at the May 22 council meeting.
“It is my pleasure to acknowledge Jacinda for her quick and selfless efforts on June 23,” said Mapleton Fire Chief Rick Richardson.
He explained Drayton station firefighters were called that evening for a “10-year-old male with vital signs absent – possible drowning.”
“While the majority of the fire department were still dealing with the aftermath of the downtown flooding in Drayton,” Richardson explained, the station’s rescue vehicle headed, with a crew of six, to the incident at a residence west of the village on Wellington Road 8.
“En route they were updated that the child was now breathing a bit,” the chief added.
In a statement nominating Schieck for the Lifesaving Certificate, Drayton resident Calvin Martin said a group of children were at the home of his friends Gary Schieck and Mary Lou Fletcher, who allowed them to use their pool for a birthday party for his son.
“The pool was well supervised throughout the evening; five adults including Jacinda who is a lifeguard/swimming instructor,” Martin explained.
“All the children could swim confidently except for one: Anthony Janzen. He wore a life jacket all evening and had a blast with everyone.”
At the end of the evening the last few boys awaiting rides home were using the hot tub, then went down to the pool for one last jump.
When Martin realized one of the youths, Anthony, was in trouble, he jumped into the pool, which is eight feet deep, and pulled him out.
“Jacinda, realizing the party was over, had gone into the house to get a few things together to head home,” Martin recalled in his statement.
“She heard my yelling and came running out. I was able to get Anthony up on my shoulder and I had him on the pool deck when she got there. There was not a sign of life in him. He was gone; his colour was grey. She started compressions/CPR immediately and took command of the situation.”
While Fletcher called 911 and Martin contacted Anthony’s parents, Schieck worked at reviving the youth, who was conscious by the time paramedics arrived.
“The paramedics estimated that we were within 20 to 30 seconds of losing him. Without Jacinda’s life-saving actions there is no doubt in my mind that Anthony would have died. I thought he was gone as it was. She was calm, professional and obviously saved a life,” Martin stated.
Anthony was transported to Palmerston General Hospital and later transferred to the ICU at McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton for care and monitoring.
Richardson said in addition to commending Schieck for her actions, the recognition ceremony provided an opportunity to “encourage everybody to take that first aid/CPR/defibrillator course any time you get a chance to.”
“I just want to say thanks. Obviously no recognition is needed,” said Schieck. “I encourage everyone to get swimming lessons … they’re really important. Young or old it’s never to late to learn how to swim. And growing up in a community where we’re surrounded with lots of water and backyard pools, it’s just really important.”
