Mabel-Canton Emergency Highlights Importance of CPR and AED Training

On July 31, school staff and individuals working on the construction project at the Mabel-Canton School put their cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills into practice and used the school’s automated external defibrillator (AED) to help save the life of Chris Meier, a State of Minnesota Inspector.

The Mabel Ambulance crew, which also played a critical role in saving Meier’s life, responded to the emergency and provided critical assistance.

On October 13, six individuals were recognized for their heroic actions and received challenge coins and certificates from Emplify Health representatives Clinical Manager/EMS Education Karla Eppler and Clinical Manager/Emplify EMS Nick Nedza. Those recognized were Max Larsen, Mabel-Canton custodian; Dana Vesterse, Mabel-Canton head of maintenance; Laura Vatland, Mabel-Canton elementary teacher and Mabel EMS member; Josh Wiste of Accord Electric; and Ryan Ramaker and Cory Potter of Krause-Anderson.

The Mabel Ambulance crew will be recognized at a later date during their regular meeting.

“These folks are heroes. True heroes. The ambulance that you have here are heroes,” stressed Eppler.

Mabel-Canton students were invited to attend the ceremony to hear firsthand how important it is to know CPR, how using an AED can save a life, and the importance of Mabel’s volunteer ambulance department.

Raymaker shared the following account of the medical emergency in an email on the day of the incident:

“Just wanted to give you all an update on the medical incident that we had this morning at the Mabel-Canton School project. We had Chris Meier, the state inspector, out to site today for multiple inspections. As he got to site, he came to the door at the cafeteria and was very short of breath. Dana Vesterse (school head of maintenance) and I got him sat down and he shortly thereafter stopped breathing and went unconscious.

“I started CPR while Dana went to get an AED and called 911 and Max Larsen (school custodian) got the AED and ran it down to the cafeteria. I continued CPR until the AED arrived, then Josh Wiste (Accord Elec) took over compressions as I applied the AED. A shock was administered, and we continued compressions until we had him back breathing and somewhat responding.

“Mabel first responders then took over, and Chris was taken to Gundersen in La Crosse for further medical attention.” Mabel-Canton Principal Michelle Weidemann introduced the heroes and shared how their quick actions made a difference.

“Because of the efforts by the people that I just introduced, because of knowing how to use CPR, knowing how to use an AED, they were able to save a life,” Weidemann said.

Students were encouraged to use this experience as motivation to learn lifesaving skills.

“EMS is often a volunteer service, and they need help. They need people who want to volunteer and help take care of others. And people survive events because of these people. They went out, and they saw this happen, and they started CPR, and CPR can sometimes be scary. You know, you’ve never done that, and now you’re working on a person who really needs help. They did amazing work.” said Eppler. “Take this day and maybe this memory and think, Oh, my gosh, how can I learn CPR? How can I learn how to use an AED to help my community, my family and my friends?”

After the ceremony, students had the opportunity to meet Meier and shake or fist bump his hand, and shared how glad that he was alive.

Meier expressed his gratitude to those who helped him, saying, “I have a lot of humbleness for the people that helped me.”