Postie lauded for life-saving action

[attach]1382[/attach]Letter carrier Lora-Lee Pullen was out delivering mail in the Beach on Dec. 19, 2008 when she spotted a woman standing ankle-deep in snow — boots in hand, not on feet.

Alarmed, Pullen did what others might avoid doing: She offered help to someone in need.

A year later, the 10-year Canada Post employee was recognized for her simple but heroic gesture at Toronto Fire’s annual Rescue and Merit Awards held at its Eastern Avenue training facility.

Pullen had just finished her mail route and was walking along Queen Street East near Woodbine Avenue that December day when she saw the woman in the snow.

“I could hear people talking about her before I actually came upon her,” she said.

Approaching the woman, Pullen tried to strike up a conversation.

“She didn’t want to talk to me, so I tried to get her to go into the coffee shop, hoping to (help her) put her boots on.”

When that didn’t work, Pullen called 911.

Realizing she was in front of a fire station, Pullen described the situation to the emergency dispatcher, who in turn called the fire hall.

Firefighters came outside and tried to talk to the woman, and when she wouldn’t respond, they carried her to warmth inside the fire hall. Pullen went with her.

“I think she was intimidated by all the men in the uniforms and everything, although I was in a mail uniform.”

It was clear the distressed woman was in a bad state, Pullen recalled.

“She had snow packed in her toes for like, the whole half hour to 45 minutes that we were in there,” said Pullen, who added the
woman was later taken away by ambulance.

Pullen said she did what she hoped anyone would do in a similar situation.

“My father taught me we are here to take care of one another and also Canada Post encourages us to be ambassadors in the community and be aware of potential situations if people are going to be needing help,” she said. “We go door-to-door. (We) see a lot.”

Pullen’s daughter Treva, who also attended the ceremony, said she was very proud of her mom.

At the ceremony, firefighters and other civilians from across the city were also honoured for lifesaving acts of heroism.

“I’m amazed that all these firemen are here, the numbers of people, and to be among them is an amazing honour,” Pullen said.