Wayland Firefighter and Nurse Sister Receive Heroes Among Us Award at Friday’s Celtics Game
WAYLAND — Fire Chief Neil McPherson is proud to share that Wayland Firefighter/Paramedic Lindsay Byrne and her twin sister Nurse Nicole Kelly received the Heroes Among Us from the Boston Celtics on Friday.
Firefighter Byrne and Nurse Kelly were honored on the court at the Celtic’s Nov. 4 home game against the Chicago Bulls for helping save the life of a woman who became unresponsive on a flight from Boston to Fort Myers earlier this year.
On Monday, Aug. 1, Firefighter Byrne and Nurse Kelly — who works at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington and as a traveling nurse — were on a JetBlue flight traveling from Boston Logan International Airport to Southwest Florida International Airport when a woman was found unresponsive in an aircraft lavatory.
Flight attendants requested help from anyone with a medical background over the plane’s intercom, and Firefighter Byrne, Nurse Kelly and another firefighter from Florida sprung into action.
The three assessed the woman and found that she was unconscious, had grayish-blue skin, a faint pulse and was having difficulty breathing. Following the assessment, the group determined that the woman was having a diabetic emergency.
They sat the woman up to clear her airway and administered her sugar packets under her tongue, which helped her regain consciousness. They stayed with the woman until the plane landed in Fort Myers, where she was transported by ambulance to an area hospital.
The sisters have since reconnected with the woman virtually.
“Congratulations to Lindsay and Nicole for being recognized by the Boston Celtics for their swift actions aboard a flight in August, which helped save the life of a woman in distress,” Chief McPherson said. “Both sisters used their unique skills, training, and knowledge to positively impact the life of another person.”
About the Heroes Among Us Award
The Heroes Among Us award was established by the Boston Celtics in 1997 to honor individuals who have made an overwhelming impact on the lives of others. Chosen heroes are honored at every home game by the Celtics and their fans during a special in-game presentation on the legendary parquet floor. The award is sponsored by the Mass State Lottery, 98.5 the Sports Hub and NBC Sports Boston.
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