A protection service officer at Cowichan District Hospital has received another accolade for what his employer is calling 含羞草研究社渁n incredible act of bravery on the job.含羞草研究社�

Charles Kraeling has become the first Island Health employee to receive an International Award of Valour by the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety for his efforts in disarming a man with a knife in July 2017.

In November 2017 Kraeling had been honoured with a Provincial Award of Valour by the association含羞草研究社檚 B.C. chapter.

Kraeling responded to a Code White (a violent or volatile individual) at the hospital and found a knife-wielding man who was threatening himself, patients and staff in a four-bedroom ward.

Kraeling said something distracted the man and knife-wielder took his eyes off of Kraeling, which provided Kraeling the opportunity to grab the man含羞草研究社檚 knife arm.

含羞草研究社淲e had a brief struggle and I managed to get the man onto the ground, and he released the knife,含羞草研究社� he said.

含羞草研究社淢y partner, who was staying back until then, managed to kick the knife further away, and I handcuffed him. The nurses gave him some medication and he started to come to some realization of what was going on. He just wasn含羞草研究社檛 thinking in a right state of mind until then.含羞草研究社�

Kraeling said no one was injured in the incident and the man was very apologetic for his actions.

含羞草研究社淗e really didn含羞草研究社檛 mean to be violent,含羞草研究社� he said.

Kraeling was honoured this week in Chicago at the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety含羞草研究社檚 annual conference.

含羞草研究社淥ur Protection Services Officers must confront many challenges in their work lives and often go above and beyond in the call of duty to protect patients and staff as Charles bravely demonstrated,含羞草研究社� said Leah Hollins, Island Health board of directors chair. 含羞草研究社淚t is gratifying for us all to see him recognized and celebrated by his peers and on an international stage.含羞草研究社�

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sarah.simpson@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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