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Local firefighter saves a driver while at his Windsor day job

Stock Image: fire fighter gear laying on a firetruck

An Amherstburg firefighter is being credited with saving a life while at his day job in Windsor.


Todd Racine, a firefighter at Amherstburg fire station 2, assisted a driver that pulled into the factory he works at after the driver went down with a heart attack. It occurred June 7. Racine said the driver was loading a truck with another employee and before he could turn and tell anyone that something was wrong, the driver collapsed to the ground.


First aid personnel was paged to the trucking bay but it was Racine’s training as a firefighter that helped save the driver.


“We’re trained to do it,” he said. “(The driver’s) eyes rolled back. He flatlined.”

After two rounds of chest compressions, the driver was administered the defibrillator.


“He came back around, which is a good thing,” said Racine. While “he coded at the hospital,” the driver was treated again but ultimately survived. Racine and the driver spoke by phone June 9 and the driver was released the next day.

“He’ll be off of work for a while,” said Racine.


Training is done regularly at the Amherstburg Fire Department, said Racine.

“We train religiously all of the time,” he said.


Providing aid to the driver was something that came instinctually to Racine, he said, and while it was nerve-wracking for him, the training and instinct took over.

“You’ve got to help the person on the ground,” he said.


Racine said he was contacted by fire chief Bruce Montone and deputy fire chief Ron Meloche afterward as the latter checked to see how he was doing after such a traumatic event.


“We’re pretty good at looking out for each other,” said Racine.


The Amherstburg resident was told by other firefighters that few have ever been in the position Racine was.


“If I never had to do it again, I’d be OK with that,” said Racine, adding “I’m glad we have the training to help someone.”

Local firefighter saves a driver at his Windsor day job


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