Quick action saves life of SVH staffer

The Skagit County EMS Commission and Mount Vernon Fire Department presented four Skagit Valley Herald newsroom staff members with the Good Samaritan Lifesaving Award for their efforts saving a fellow staff member’s life last month. 

EMS Commission Manager Earl Klinefelter presented the awards on Friday, Nov. 10, to Dick Clever, August Kryger, Kate Martin and Ralph Schwartz, who were instrumental in saving the life of Sports Editor Dan Ruthemeyer, who collapsed on the afternoon of Oct. 22 when his heart suddenly stopped.
Clever, Kryger and Martin performed CPR and Schwartz made the 911 call to summon medical assistance from the Mount Vernon Fire Department and Medic One. The trio who performed the CPR had taken training, although not recently.

Clever, whose last CPR training was about a dozen years ago, has since read that the most important thing to do is chest compressions to keep the blood flowing. He and Kryger kept the chest compressions going, but Clever said “it seemed like forever” before the medics arrived.

MVFD C shift Battalion Chief Mike Voss, who responded first, said the immediate CPR administered and the call to 911 not only kept Ruthemeyer from dying, but also from sustaining significant brain damage due to oxygen deprivation.

“They were buying time for advanced care to get there and perform additional procedures,” he said. “That kind of response is surprising in this day and age.”

Lt. Brian Harris and paramedic/firefighter Frank DeYoung from the downtown station began providing advanced life support procedures as soon as they arrived.

As a result of everyone’s efforts, Ruthemeyer was able to return to work about two weeks after the event.

Martin said she took a semester-long college first aid and CPR class 11 years ago “for an easy A,” never dreaming she would ever have to use her training.
Kryger, whose last CPR training was about seven years ago, agreed.

“I kept thinking how much I wanted him to live,” he said, adding that he plans to take the class again soon.

CPR training is available from the American Red Cross, 360-424-5291, and from the Skagit County EMS Commission, 360-428-3236, or the Sedro-Woolley Fire Department, 360-856-2252.

Voss said the fire department and medic teams respond to about 3,500 calls each year, of which 40 percent are cardiac related. He said this was one of very few times that a heart trauma victim has been saved through CPR.

“More people die than are saved in heart-related incidents, and (cardiac arrest) is the most common event we respond to.”

Voss said it’s unusual for first responders to arrive at a medical emergency and find lifesaving efforts in progress.

“CPR is not a common occurrence,” he said.

Martin, who has since taken a new first aid and CPR class, said the course is significantly different now.

“So much has changed in 11 years,” she said. “If anyone is on the fence about getting the training, they should go back.”

MOUNT VERNON

Dietician honored for work with WIC program

Erica Lamson from the Skagit County Community Action Agency in Mount Vernon recently received the Outstanding Registered Dietitian award for her work with the Women, Infant and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC).

She was honored during the Washington Association of Local WIC Agencies 2007 State Conference held in SeaTac. She was commended for her support of breast feeding programs and good nutrition through the local farmers markets.