||| FROM TOMAS ARDAVANY, RN, PARAMEDIC |||
“Who are you?” he asked me at the gas pumps on Mt. Baker Road.
“I’m the Paramedic today”, I said, as I pumped gas into the rig.
“I thought Patrick Shepler is the only medic on the island,” he replied, staring me down.
“Yep, well I get that. He is the best and everyone on the island knows him.” We shook hands then went on with our day.
OIFD was lucky to get Patrick Shepler years ago. I have attended his lectures, in-services, and watched him work commanding the scene of numerous medical emergencies. His professionalism, calm manner, and sense of humor were a boost to the morale of the whole department. The EMTs learned something new every shift with Patrick.
You need to vote for Patrick Shepler for Fire Commissioner. His knowledge and experience are what is needed now on the BOFC. He knows the job and how a Fire Department is supposed to work.
Agree with all written here; I’ve seen his professionalism in action first and second hand, and how respected he is by the firefighters and EMTs – and the people he’s served, including myself. Good morale and mutual respect is a necessity in any department – especially one where its volunteers save our lives and endanger their own as a matter of course. I need know nothing more than that to know that this qualifies him for the job of commissioner; he gets my vote.
A few years ago, when I had a thunderclap headache (it’s sudden, excruciating, and, according to Google, fortunately rare), my wife took me to the UW Clinic, where they told me I should get scanned at St. Joe’s in Bellingham to rule out a brain bleed. A team of four from Orcas Island Fire and Rescue showed up, led by Patrick. Even filled with pain meds, I could see how calmly and efficiently this team worked. Everybody seemed to know what to do without being told. Just watching their synchronized movements made me feel secure and well cared for, and Patrick calmly explained the steps they were taking. They arranged for me to be flown to Bellingham on the Island Air Ambulance and for Peggy to get on the ferry to bring our car there for the return trip. They worked smoothly with the UW team and with the Island Air team, who showed great respect for Patrick and his colleagues. After i got back from Bellingham (no brain bleed), I met Patrck for coffee and learned (by asking a lot of questions) about his extensive background in firefighting and responding to medical emergencies, and about the amazing training program he had developed for OIFR. I want someone as Fire Commissioner who has the experience, knowledge, leadership qualities, and skills Patrick demonstrated when I needed them. Since then, I’ve met quite a few Islanders who have expressed similar feelings about Patrick, from personal experience. Peggy and I intend to vote for Patrick and support his candidacy any way we can.