||| FROM GERI BAKER for ORCAS ONLINE |||
On April 20, 2026 my husband Stu collapsed in his chair (Widow-Maker heart attack. 70% mortality rate) at our office in Eastsound and was without pulse for 25+ minutes. 6 paddles (clear!), 3 EPI jabs & so many compressions, plus 3 stents added by the Cath Lab at Peace Health in Bellingham–he is alive and well! Because God Almighty blessed us! Because our colleague Ron Claus knew/started CPR immediately on the instruction of the 911 operator. Because our First Responders are among the finest in the nation & were here within 4 minutes. 15 of them were on hand, in our office, swapping out every 2 minutes like clockwork, making Stu’s heart beat until it took over again for itself. They did not give up!
I’m told that our First Responders have the highest rate of resuscitation IN THE NATION. We saw you in action and we are not surprised. Heartfelt thanks to our First Responders, the paramedics, the EMTs, the volunteers. We appreciate you! The time you have spent training, your commitment to our Orcas Island Community. You are amazing & words are not enough to express our gratitude. We love you. Hat tip to Mercy Flights for their kind, wonderful pilots.
Nothing matters more than the humans that are here. God works through humanity–we need each other. Life is short. Everyone in our office is on the schedule for first aid and CPR classes because knowledge matters. If you don’t know CPR, today is a great day to learn how to save a life.
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I am so glad Stu made it through all of this and can now recover. Our First Responders are amazing, skillful, and so kind and compassionate
What a blessing to live here in a community of caring people and the very best First Responders in all manner of crises. I’m so glad your colleague was working that day and could help save Stu. Timing is essential.
I took a CPR course here on Orcas over 40 years ago – not that it helped me when my dear friend died of a heart attack. and I found her, don’t know how many moments after. I was 33. She was 47. I forgot everything in the panic. – everything I had learned went out the window except making the call. Then I had to watch as Stan Williams did the paddles and chest compressions, praying at that point that she did not come back to life because by that time her brain was too far gone. I don’t think I could do the chest compressions – then, or now. But even clearing the airwaves of any obstructions and breathing into a person can be somewhat helpful .Don’t let my failure stop you from taking the CPR course, whoever reads this. I believe that every able bodied person would benefit by knowing how to give CPR.
I hope this will encourage people take the course and do the refreshers when they are available.
It’s true! Orcas Island Fire and Rescue is one of the best in the business of saving property and lives.