A volunteer with the Chemainus Health Care Auxiliary was not seriously hurt after a fall in a dumbwaiter lift at the Thrift Shop Monday morning.
“The lift is just to move donated items from one floor to the next,” explained Lois Greenhill, a member of the auxiliary’s personnel committee.
The woman was able to speak to police and ambulance paramedics about the incident and WorkSafeBC is looking into it.
Greenhill said WorkSafeBC personnel had been on site and “we’re awaiting their report.”
Members of the North Cowichan Fire Department’s Chemainus hall were first on the scene. “They provided emotional support until the ambulance attended,” noted Greenhill.
There was an extensive presence of RCMP officers in three police vehicles and BC Emergency Health Services ambulance paramedics transported the woman to hospital for observation and treatment. “She was released from the hospital (Monday) afternoon,” said Greenhill.
“The First Responders were fabulous,” she added. “We were very thankful. What a great community.”
There’s also been an outpouring of support once news of the incident spread and “we appreciate the community’s concern,” said Greenhill. “We are so very thankful our volunteer was quickly assessed and released.”
Volunteers are the lifeblood of the organization and “we’ve got a fabulous group of volunteers here,” Greenhill enthused.
The exact circumstances of the incident are still being determined. The auxiliary has goods stored on the second floor of the building on Maple Street and utilizes the dumbwaiter lift so seniors don’t have to use a set of stairs.
The Thrift Shop was closed for donations Monday. It reopened to the public and for donations Tuesday.
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