A HUG FOR A HERO
Three youngsters recognized by city for quick, effective use of 911 during crises
Liam Maher receives an embrace from Code, the Ottawa Paramedic Service mascot, following the 2019 Children’s 911 Awards ceremony at Ottawa City Hall on Thursday. Liam, Chloe Zierl, left, and Alyssa Paquin (not pictured here) were honoured for their use of the emergency line during crises in 2018.
Liam Maher has wanted to be a paramedic since he was in Grade 1.
Now nine, he got an up-close look at the profession in action on Oct. 5, 2018, when his mother, Crystal, had an epileptic seizure and fell down some stairs.
Only eight years old at the time, Liam took charge, calling 911 and marshalling his sisters Isabella and Ariana, one to go to a neighbour’s home for help and the other to wait in front of their own residence for the ambulance.
For his cool, quick thinking, Liam was among three youngsters honoured at city hall on Thursday. Alyssa Paquin, 11, and Chloe Zierl, 9, also were recipients of Children’s 911 Awards, presented annually to youths 12 and under who effectively use 911 in crises.
“My mom got a concussion afterwards, but I know she’s safe now,” Liam said. “And I know how to deal with her seizures, I know the drill. I was scared, but with my sisters by my side, I was braver.”
Crystal notes that, although she and her husband had taught their children from a young age what to do in the event she had a seizure, she was nonetheless impressed by their swift action.
“It’s one thing to do a drill,” she said, “but, when it comes to actually doing it ... He called 911, he directed everybody to the various tasks. I’m just so proud of him.
“But it’s important that we did the exercises, so that, if there is an emergency, they know what to do.”
Alyssa Paquin, now 11, was watching a movie with her mother in February 2018 when, while turning to go use the washroom, she noticed her mother had fallen asleep — not an uncommon movie-watching occurrence, according to Alyssa. What was unusual, however, was that her mother was drooling.
“That’s a sign she’s having a seizure,” said Alyssa, who called 911 and, although frantic on the inside, remained composed as she explained what was happening.
By the time paramedics arrived, Alyssa said, her grandfather had returned home from grocery shopping. “My mom was awake and my grandpa was helping, but the paramedics checked her — which brings us to now.”
She added she felt “pretty good” receiving her award Thursday, but unlike Liam she’s not convinced a future as an emergency responder awaits her.
Chloe Zierl, meanwhile, was eight on Oct. 18, 2018, when her older sister, 14 at the time and babysitting Chloe, fainted when she got up from watching TV to get a glass of water.
“I grabbed her phone and I called 911,” Chloe recalled. “Then I called my nanny and my mom. My sister had low iron. I was shaking, but I got her a glass of water and stayed by her side.”
Chloe described receiving her award as “awesome.” As for possibly saving her sister’s life, she said it was “just something I had to do.”
Thursday’s ceremony, sponsored by Bell, was hosted by Kanata North councillor and community and protective services committee chair Jenna Sudds and Mayor Jim Watson, and it was attended by representatives from the city’s emergency services, councillors Keith Egli and Rawlson King, plus Ottawa Paramedic Service mascot Code and Ottawa Fire Services mascot Sparky. The dogs got along fine. bdeachman@postmedia.com