Orcas Fire and Coast Guard save island man

Freezing rain was coating the roads of Eastsound when San Juan dispatch received a 911 call, just after 8:30 pm. on Dec. 14. Within 20 seconds, the tones went out for a 41-year old man down, ­CPR in progress.

Michael Atkinson was watching football on his couch when suddenly something went very wrong. Atkinson went into cardiac arrest. When Orcas Island volunteer EMT/firefighter George Schermerhorn arrived less than three minutes later, Dawn Atkinson had already pulled her husband to the floor and was performing CPR. She had just taken the certification course from the fire department in November. EMTs says this is the first reason Michael is alive today.

Within 60 seconds, the four-wheel drive medic unit was on scene with paramedic Jeff Larsen, and Lts. Jason Madeiros and Chad Kimple. Within five minutes of the call to 911, the team had attached the AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) and delivered a life-saving shock. After two more minutes of CPR, Michael¹s heartbeat had returned. He was breathing on his own. But, he had to get to a hospital immediately if he was going to survive the night.

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By this time, despite extremely hazardous conditions, five more responders were in the Atkinsons’ living room. The weather had grounded any chance of emergency air transport. The San Juan County Sherriff’s boat was transporting a simultaneous emergency from Lopez to Anacortes. But Coast Guard Station Bellingham was ready and willing to respond with a 33-foot patrol boat, but they would need at least one paramedic to transport with the patient to St. Joe’s hospital in Bellingham. Because of the weather, anyone leaving would not be returning to Orcas until the following day.

Rather than leave the island community without vital medical protection, County Medical Director Dr. Mike Sullivan contacted the Coast Guard Station to say he was four minutes out and ready to respond to the island for the transport. He was quickly fitted for a Coast Guard survival suit and en-route with the four Coast Guard crew members.

In the meantime, Michael was regaining consciousness and talking to responders.

He was loaded into the ambulance and transported to the Orcas Ferry landing to meet the 33-foot boat out of Sqaulicum Harbor. As soon as

they arrive arrived, Dr. Sullivan immediately cleared the patient for the new clot busting thrombolytic therapy. This drug therapy is credited with saving a life on Orcas last winter during a snowstorm and is an advanced medical protocol rarely used outside of a hospital setting.

“Without the heroic efforts of the OIFD EMTs, paramedic and the four brave Coast Guard men and women who risked their lives in the dark stormy seas this family would be planning a funeral instead of a holiday celebration,” Dr. Sullivan said. “I am proud to be a part of such a dedicated team of medical responders. This is another example of how well our system of care is benefiting the community. We talk about a chain of survival. Each link in this chain builds on the previous one, and timely delivery of each intervention allows the next intervention to be successful. The four links include early access to 911 and telephone CPR instructions, early CPR, early defibrillation and early advanced care. If one link in the chain fails, the chance of survival is very low.”

“A special thanks goes to the US Coast Guard Station Bellingham, who

responded to a time of need. There was a significant risk to life in this transport,” Chief Harris said. “Crew-members BM2 Fink, BM3 Filion, MK2 Baker and SN Walls-Parrish should be recognized for their skill, dedication and bravery. It took more than Orcas Fire & Rescue to save Michael, but it started with the fire department trainers who taught CPR to his wife, continued with our core of highly trained and motivated volunteers and finished with our Medical Director, who is without equal. But all of that was put into motion only 5 years ago when the citizens who served on the strategic plan, did their work and empowered the commissioners to hire the fire/medics that lead this effort and who Dr. Sullivan has complete faith in. This was a classic Orcas save with a cast of dozens.”