Little local hero to be honoured

By Blair Braitenbach
Staff reporter

When Kristy Allary woke up in the hospital after suffering from a life-threatening health condition, she had no idea that it was her five-year-old son Zackary who was largely responsible for saving her life.
In March of 2007, Kristy was stricken with a case of epiglottitis, a viral condition in the esophagus causing the top of the airway to close. If her condition had not been treated immediately, she would likely have died.
When Zackary found his mother unconscious and not breathing, he knew how to make the crucial 911 call that ultimately saved her life. Not only did young Zackary, now six-years-old, know how to call 911, but he also gave emergency crews directions to his house in Okotoks’ Tucker Hill all while watching over his two-year-old brother.
“I am very proud of him, and to me he’s a hero,” Kristy said. “It makes me believe that anything is possible with kids the way they can learn and pick up things.”
Emergency crews were impressed with Zackary’s quick thinking and emergency know-how, which he had learned at school only a week prior to the critical situation.
“(Zackary) was really the key part in his mom being around and being alive today,” said Greg Anderson, Foothills Regional EMS (FREMS) public education officer.
It is because of his actions that Zackary is one of two individuals being honoured through the FREMS Citizen Recognition Program.
On Saturday, Feb. 23, Zackary and Peter Finkensiep will each receive a plaque from FREMS and have their stories shared during a ceremony immediately prior to the Okotoks Junior A Oilers hockey game at the Foothills Centennial Arena. Finkensiep, a High River school bus driver, is being recognized for the aid he provided after witnessing a motor vehicle accident.
Zackary and Finkensiep are the inaugural recipients of the recognition award for those who make instrumental efforts in a patient’s treatment, recovery or comfort and went over and above what would normally be expected of the public.
“We wanted to start up the program which recognizes those who do unbelievable things (and) amazing acts at these emergencies that make a difference for somebody else,” Anderson said.
“We’ve said you don’t have to have a cape or superpowers and you don’t have to work for EMS or a fire department to help people, and that’s what this is about. This is recognizing people who have been put in a situation and they’ve stepped up and they really made a difference. And sometimes they have done this at the risk of their own health.”
In addition to recognizing those who performed life-saving acts, Anderson noted that the awards help those who were rescued from potentially fatal situations.
“Part of recognizing these citizens is also a healing process for the person involved and also the rescuers. When they share that story, they can heal from that emergency – it can be very traumatic for people,” Anderson said.
There will be two ceremonies a year in which FREMS will recognize nominated citizens. In the winter the ceremony will take place prior to an Oilers hockey game, and in the summer prior to an Okotoks Dawgs baseball game. The Oilers hockey club, the Dawgs baseball club, Boston Pizza in Okotoks (which is also giving gift certificates to Zackary and Finkensiep at Saturday’s ceremony) and the FREMS Foundation are key sponsors of the new program.
Nominations for the recognition program are made by FREMS staff, other emergency services, or the general public. If anyone from the public would like to nominate someone for this summer’s award, contact FREMS at 652-3904. Individuals do not have to live within the FREMS service area (MDs of Foothills and Willow Creek), but they must have provided their aid within it. Those making nominations must know the individual’s name and phone number due to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP) regulations.