Paramedics Casey Porteous, Krista Law and Darren Spitzig played a key role in doing the unthinkable during Thursday’s qualifiers at Hiawatha Horse Park
– they brought a man back to life.
That man was 68-year-old horseman Roger Hamm, who collapsed and fell from his sulky shortly after qualifying Glenmount Diane in the third qualifier.
"We were watching the races," said Porteous, who was on hand to work the Adrenaline Festival. "Roger was leaning off to one side and then Krista [paramedic Krista Law] said, 'he fell off.' We weren’t there for the racing but we hopped the fence. I checked his pulse, he had no pulse and wasn't breathing. I rolled him over and started doing CPR. I saw the flak jacket and said 'oh no' but I was able to zip it down.
“For a minute or two he was VSA (vital signs absent)”, Porteous added. “The track medics got there quickly and used their defibrillator. After one shock he came back.”
Track paramedic Darren Spitzig arrived on the scene to use the defibrillator and shortly after that an EMS team arrived to assist. It truly was a team effort.
"This is the first time we've ever seen it," said Law. "In all the years we've been doing this we've performed CPR numerous time but never brought someone back.”
Hamm was transported to a nearby hospital, and Trot Insider has learned he was talking and alert.
Glenmount Diane ran loose after Hamm fell out of the bike, but she was apprehended and suffered no injuries.
The Thursday night qualifiers took place before the harness races at Adrenaline, Canada's Racing Festival, running Thursday, August 20 through Sunday, August 23 at Hiawatha Horse Park in Sarnia, ON.
To view Thursday evening’s qualifying results, click here.
glad your still with us,
glad your still with us, props to the ems workers for their great work praying for you and the boys (bill, tom).
All the best Roger. I know
All the best Roger. I know you have the grit for the battle ahead,
Bob & Jennifer Harris
HAROLD WILLS Roger hope you
HAROLD WILLS Roger hope you are getting better are thoughts and prayers are with you.
Harry Judy Al & Linda Wills.
OMG Roger I am Glad your
OMG Roger I am Glad your still here and just for the Record your not aloud to leave us yet not Till I say lol you still have to Teach me a Crap load More thank You to Everyone that worked in saving Roger if it Weren't for you there would be a lot of people in Tears right now God Bless each and Everyone of You and Your family's and as for you Rog Keep well Good buddy!!!! hope to see you in GA when I go down to Visit this year!!!!!!!
Chris "The Kid" Long
Hey Roger, get well fast,
Hey Roger, get well fast, and hope to see you back at the track real soon.
Gerry and Kathy Girling
thank god and thank you to
thank god and thank you to the people who helped roger if it weren't for those people roger would be sadly missed. Get well roger hope to see you back on the track soon take care!!!
We would like to thank
We would like to thank everybody who had helped our friends life. Words could hardly express our graditude. Roger, get well soon and get living. P.S. Watching you drive is enough excitement for us, you do not have to do any extra preformances after the race. Love from all of us! The Kindornay's
I was shocked to hear the
I was shocked to hear the news but VERY happy and grateful to hear how well the paramedics did getting you (Roger) back with us. Hopefully everything will be better from here and you'll be back with us very soon.
Thank you to the paramedics,
Thank you to the paramedics, Casey, Krista and Darren for performing a miracle. Thanks also to everyone who has supported the Chase McEachern Tribute Fund that allows tracks to have a defibrillator on hand. You all helped to save a man's life.
Roger, this is not the way to get everyone's adrenaline going....stop scaring us like that! Get well soon. We need you in a few more pictures.
Bill
Roger we are all very happy
Roger we are all very happy to read you are still with us! Thank you Casey Porteous, Krista Law and Darren Spitzig for your quick actions. This makes me realize I need to update my First Aid/CPR training. Take care of yourself Roger we are thinking of you.
Darryl MacArthur
I hope all is well and wish
I hope all is well and wish Roger quick return.
This situation had a good ending but it should in a way bring to the forefront a need to review that ALL Racetracks need to ensure they have competent medics at their facilities when back paddock opens and at bare minimum during QUA and LIVE Racing, which I'm pretty sure is the norm. I'm not suggesting its lacking because I could not be certain but I still worry about the level of competency of the medics at some of the racetracks.
The First 15 minutes is so vital in event of accident/emergency situation as is the initial assessment.
One of the medics on the track should be a Paramedic, that should be a requirement.
The medics should all need to have proof of qualification(s) provided to ORC for ex each medic then given id badge from ORC noting they are approved. You do not want 2 first aider's on seen in the event of accident, in this case the line "better than nothing" would not suffice?
get well soon Rog!! our
get well soon Rog!! our thoughts are with you and your family.
Rob & Wayne Giles
In reply to get well soon Rog!! our by Rob Giles
Kudos to the paramedic staff
Kudos to the paramedic staff and to those who had the good sense to have a defribulator on hand.
Best wishes to Roger and his family.
Norm BOrg
Dang Roger!!!! Stay well,,,
Dang Roger!!!! Stay well,,, almost time to head south!! Thank you Casey, Krista and Darren for being on your toes!
OMG Roger.....Thank GOD they
OMG Roger.....Thank GOD they were there...!!! You are a wonderful spirit and precious soul and I don't know what we would do without your wonderful self..... We love you and our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family!!!!!!!!!!
Aimee and Bill Hagerty