SASKATOON A Choiceland couple is speaking out about the importance of first responders after a cardiac arrest incident while they were at their cottage in Candle Lake. Glen Kelsey started feeling unwell on the evening of Jan. 16 after a normal day of snowshoeing and ice fishing with his wife, Connie. When he started heavily sweating and holding his chest, Connie called 911. Within minutes, volunteer first responder Debbie Hunter arrived. Louise Tarasiuk and Karen Mack, also first responders in Candle Lake, came shortly after. They all took training in order to provide initial care to patients before Parkland Ambulance paramedics coming from Prince Albert arrived.
On Jan. 16, Glen and Connie Kelsey left their Choiceland home to have a nice Saturday at their cottage in Candle Lake. They went snowshoeing and snowmobiling. Glen even snuck in some icefishing in the day.
They could have never guessed they’d be talking about a near-death experience to a cardiac arrest a few weeks later to bring attention to cardiovascular health during Heart Month in February.
As they settled in for that Saturday evening, Glen started to feel tired and nauseous and went into the bedroom to lay down. It started to become clear to Connie that her husband was having a heart attack.