Keys receives Award of Exceptional Recognition

By Rob Vogt Local Press Writer
Although Shawn Keys was recognized with a Chief’s Award of Exceptional Recognition by the Calgary Police Service, he would much rather talk about the award in the context of mental health and wellness.
Keys, a lieutenant in the Calgary Fire Department and a 16-year member, was honoured with the award at the Chief’s Awards Gala back in December at the Red and White Club at McMahon Stadium.
The incident he is recognized for happend in 2019. The call came while he was working a shift at Station 19 on Canyon Meadows Drive.
It was the closest station to Fish Creek Park.
That was where an off-duty police officer saw someone face down in the water in cardiac arrest, and called it in.
Keys arrived with
another firefighter.
They had to shed their gear to swim across to the other side of the water to get to the individual in cardiac arrest.
They reached the person, administered Naloxone, and worked on the person until they got a heart rhythm back.
Fortunately, the water was cold enough to help the person in distress.
They loaded the person on a board, and went back across the creek to load them on to a helicopter because STARS Air Ambulance had arrived by this point.
Keys noted the person in the water was in mental health distress, and it highlights how important mental health is.
He has lost five colleagues to mental health concerns.
First responders attend calls where they see people in their darkest hours.
First responders are people too, and those experiences get bottled up until it gets to a point they can no longer deal with them.
Moreover, emergency personnel can be triggered by something innocuous that reminds them of an experience they had.
Keys said this is why he admires volunteer firefighters. He described it as empowering to see them go out on calls, and is in awe of them.
“Kudos to the Claresholm Fire Department,” he said.
His message to everyone is simple – it is okay to say no and walk away, if something becomes too much.
There are all sorts of supports out there.
“We’re not alone,” Keys said, adding it is okay to say no.
“At the end of the day, you have to take care of yourself.”