By Donna Baer, Firefighter/EMT
In February of 2005, I watched my husband (already an EMT and firefighter) spring into action and initiate care that saved his own sister’s life when she collapsed.
She was a Code Blue due to a burst cerebral aneurysm no one knew she had; he performed CPR and breathed for her until additional assistance arrived, and that action according to the neurosurgeon is what allowed her to be delivered to his door with a chance.
She lived to walk out of the neurosurgery department 30 days later on her own with no deficits of any kind, the first admitted in her condition to do so at that facility.
I believed that my husband was part of a miracle and that if I became involved, I could pay back a small part of that miracle by trying my best to be a lifesaver as well.
Even though I was a 50-year-old insulin-dependent diabetic, I enrolled in the first responder training offered a few months later and achieved national certification, then the next EMT class offered early the following year, again completing national certification. I then enrolled to learn to teach CPR for the American Heart Association.
I was fortunate enough to win “First Responder of the Year” for my county EMS organization the first year I practiced.
I’ve been an active first responder and firefighter with my local fire department since that time, and believe although I have changed outcomes in many instances, I am still paying back.
I’m thankful that I have been able to do this and also that I am active as a CPR instructor to influence others to save lives as well.