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December 16, 2008, Saint-Lazare – The Saint Lazare Medical Response Unit last week celebrated five years of emergency pre-hospital service to the community.  To mark the special anniversary, the service held a reception for many of their most fervent supporters from the five-year period.
The Saint Lazare Medical Response Unit began providing first responder service to Saint Lazare in December 2003.  Since that time, the service has added a CPR training program for the public.
Co-directors, Nick D’Ulisse and Nelly Stipdonk welcomed guests to the anniversary reception including Saint-Lazare Mayor Paul Carzoli, Councillors Michel St-Louis and Brigitte Asselin, Saint Lazare Fire Chief Daniel Boyer, Hudson Fire Chief Peter Milot, and many other community and business leaders.

Three special guests told the crowd about the impact the Saint Lazare Medical Reponse Unit has made in their lives.
Josee Santa Maria and her daughter Mikala moved many to tears recounting the day Mikala used the Heimlich Maneuver on her mother.
When Josee began to choke, Mikala used what she had learned in one of the Saint Lazare Medical Response Unit’s CPR courses.  She told those gathered that she took the course when she was thirteen in order to be a better babysitter and never imagined she would end up using her skills on someone so close to her.

Michel Greffard said he was thankful for the efforts of the first responders, even though he has no direct memory of what it was that the team did for him.  Greffard recounted what he could remember: a cold day in February when he was four-wheeling on one of Saint Lazare’s trails.  On that day, he was working hard to move his ATV through deep snow when he began to suffer chest pain.  His friends and family have told him that he then went into cardiac arrest on the trail.
D’Ulisse and Stipdonk presented recognition plaques to twenty one long-time supporters of the service.
The Saint Lazare Medical Response Unit also took the occasion to honour one of its own.  Jean Noel, a member of the service since its inception, was given recognition for his exceptional contributions to the service over its five years.
The Saint Lazare Medical Response Unit is a non-profit, volunteer organization providing first responder service and CPR training.  For more information on joining the service or taking a CPR course, visit online at www.saintlazare911.com or call 450 455 5824.

This year marks the 5th anniversary of the Saint-Lazare Medical Response Unit.  The local pre-hospital service began providing emergency medical first response on December 6, 2003.

In recognition of this anniversary, we present a series of profiles of the volunteers who provide this emergency service.

Name: Courtney McKechnie
Position: First Responder
Years with the service: 2
Medical background: none
Home: Hudson.  But, I grew up in Saint-Lazare.  The year I started volunteering with the service was, ironically, the year I moved out of Saint Lazare.
Tell us what you were doing before you volunteered with the First Responders:
“I was working for a chemical company, and I still do.  My job there is to prepare the Hazardous Materials Handling Sheets. I also work as a ski instruction at Mont Rigaud.
Why is the First Responder service important for you:
“Before I joined the first responders, I was interested getting involved with a fire service.  I was drawn to the tools and equipment that they use. Now, as a first responder, I’m still passionate about learning how to work well with that kind of equipment.  The tools we use on extrication calls and trauma calls are physically demanding, and I enjoy that challenge.
And, I can say that the first responders have been a life altering experience for me.  I’ve decided that I want to pursue paramedic studies in Stony Creek.  I just had my physical for that last week.  The first responders helped me to get the focus for my life to see what direction I want to go.”

For more information about the Saint Lazare Medical Response Unit, joining the first responders, or the CPR Program (RCR Saint-Lazare CPR) call 450.455.5824, e-mail info@saintlazare911.com, or visit online at www.saintlazare911.com.