An off-duty Ottawa firefighter is being hailed as a hero after using a tourniquet to help save the life of a pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle. The incident occurred on May 4, 2026, and was reported by CTV News Ottawa's Katie Griffin.
Quick thinking saves a life
Jason Murray, an Ottawa firefighter, was off duty when he witnessed a pedestrian being hit by a car. Without hesitation, he grabbed a tourniquet he carries with him and applied it to the victim's injured leg, stopping severe bleeding until paramedics arrived. The pedestrian was transported to hospital in stable condition, and doctors credited the tourniquet with saving their life.
Importance of tourniquets
Murray emphasized that carrying a tourniquet can make a critical difference in emergencies. He urged others to consider learning basic first aid and carrying emergency supplies. The Ottawa Fire Services praised his actions, noting that his training and preparedness were key to the successful rescue.
This story is part of a broader context of public safety and emergency response. Other recent news includes a deadly outbreak of suspected hantavirus on a cruise ship, cable thefts causing Telus outages in B.C., and a Calgary man accused of killing his children remaining in custody. Additionally, Ottawa children were honored for making lifesaving 911 calls, and Ontario is granting OC Transpo special constables the power to make arrests for drug use on public transit.
In other developments, a Laval daycare bus crash driver is appealing his high-risk offender status, and Ville-Marie is issuing more fines for lack of sidewalk maintenance. An Alberta judge denied an effort to amend a court challenge against the province's trans law, and a $93.5 million gift to the University of Alberta will fund women's and children's health research. Cape Breton fiddler Ashley MacIsaac filed a defamation lawsuit against Google, and a Halifax councillor discussed construction industry engagement with the city.
Manitoba teachers highlighted class sizes and complexity of needs as top concerns, while the Manitoba legislature speaker cracked down on heckling. A disturbance call in Regina ended with an arrest after a man tried to steal an officer's weapon. Work began at a Bell AI data centre site near Regina, and paid parking started in downtown Elora. Fraud charges were laid against a man who scanned cheaper items at checkout, and Saskatchewan is monitoring water after a CPKC engine spilled fuel into a river. A worker was killed at a northern Ontario mining project, and Wiikwemkoong plans to ban offenders after a shooting and drug arrests. An inquest into the police shooting death of a former tennis pro began with an emotional opening address, and motor safety tips followed a deadly crash in London. Environmental concerns were raised over a DND radar project in Barrie, and the Barrie mayor advanced protection of conservation lands. Windsor-Essex manufacturers say federal tariff relief loans fall short, and Windsor travellers should know about the Spirit shutdown. A man faces multiple charges after a deadly B.C. crash, and a campfire ban is likely coming to the B.C. coast. A lawyer cited a 'highly significant development' after a client was charged with murdering a woman who had sought court protection. A judge tossed a dangerous driving case after a crown attorney berated a Toronto cop, and the U.S. Supreme Court restored access to the abortion pill mifepristone. A judge asked why a jail placed a suspect in the White House correspondents' dinner attack on suicide watch.
In politics, Trump's pipeline approval shows U.S. and Canada can still work together, the federal intelligence commissioner issued a record number of decisions, and Solomon says a delayed federal AI strategy is coming soon. In business, Spirit Airlines failed because too many passengers hated flying it, the first regulated Canadian digital dollar is here, and a Roomba pioneer aims to crack the household market with an AI-powered pet robot. In health, a Canadian woman described surviving hantavirus 20 years ago, a therapist shared unexpected thoughts with motherhood, and an Alzheimer's drug was approved in Canada. In entertainment, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni settled a lawsuit over 'It Ends With Us', Dolly Parton cancelled her Las Vegas residency, and a real WKRP radio came to Cincinnati. In sports, the Magic fired Jamahl Mosley after five seasons, the assault trial of Stefon Diggs began, and Masai Ujiri found a new NBA home. In lifestyle, a cruise ship with Broadway stars will steam to Mexico and the Bahamas, the business of buying ube is complex, and some Canadians still receive phonebooks. In climate, California seeks millions from State Farm for wildfire claims, endangered whale protections may be delayed, and Kenya's rainy season turned deadly. In sci-tech, ChatGPT conversations became evidence in criminal investigations, a bright moon may dim the Eta Aquarid meteor shower, and the U.S. military reached deals with tech companies to use their AI on classified systems.
