Alberta leadership contender uses CPR to save woman’s life

Thomas Lukaszuk is getting a bit of a superhero reputation.

In 2011, the Alberta PC leadership contender rushed to the aid of a grandmother who had been hit in a crosswalk by an SUV, and stayed with her until helped arrived. The woman didn't survive, but Lukaszuk received an award for his efforts.

On two other occasions, Lukaszuk helped detain suspects until police arrived.

And this weekend, Lukaszuk performed CPR on a woman who stopped breathing after suffering a seizure on an Edmonton sidewalk.

Late Saturday evening, Lukaszuk and his wife were leaving the Edmonton Fringe Festival grounds when they spotted the woman in distress.

"We were down at the Fringe and we were just walking on the sidewalk and noticed a commotion," Jason Millar, Lukaszuk's executive assistant, told the Calgary Herald. "A lady was lying on the ground. We noticed she was having a seizure, so Thomas right away got beside her and rolled her on her side and tried to comfort her."

Millar said the woman, who was in her 30s, might have been homeless.

"I knew he won an award for helping that grandmother when she was hit by a car," he said. "I knew it wasn’t out of his character to help."

As Lukaszuk tried to protect the woman from hurting herself, another good Samaritan offered assistance.

She soon lost consciousness. When Lukaszuk couldn't find a pulse, he began performing CPR until an ambulance arrived.

"It was the right thing to do and I did it because if I have an accident, I would wish there was someone around to help me," Lukaszuk said in an interview Monday.

Lukaszuk joked that he should start wearing a first-aid backpack when he goes out in public, as he's beginning to wonder why he always finds himself in these situations.

The premier hopeful told the Calgary Herald that he hopes his actions aren't misinterpreted as a campaign stunt:

"I just feel so uncomfortable about this because there will be some jerk who will say it's a campaign stunt and, for God's sake, I hope that's not how it will be received."

The emergency inspired Lukaszuk to explore options for introducting first-aid certification into the high school curriculum.

"If our young people could learn those skills earlier in life, I think it would benefit them personally," he told the Calgary Sun.

"Those skills are not only life-saving but also lead to employment. Most employers require some form of first aid certification. It would also save the healthcare system money when the first 60 minutes of emergency response and CPR is so important, particularly with a person who has coronary issues."