Retiring bailiff ends up as a hero for Califonrnia teen

[depakid]

Source: Santa Maria Times


Deputy Jim Stetson poses for a picture Thursday at Santa Barbara County Juvenile Court. Stetson gave mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing to a 14-year-old girl who had a seizure and stopped breathing Wednesday in the court room lobby.
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A sheriff’s deputy recently decided against retiring after 25 years and, as a result, saved a life Wednesday. Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Jim Stetson was grateful he was on duty as a bailiff at Santa Maria Juvenile Court when a 14-year-old girl began seizing in the courtroom lobby. The unidentified girl stopped breathing. Stetson performed mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing on the teenager who then began taking in air again. She is recovering, and called Stetson to thank him for his life-saving actions. “What a great conversation,”

Stetson said. He explained some people don’t realize law enforcement work has different facets. “This is probably, without a doubt, the nicest part of my job,” said Stetson, who spent 20 years with the Santa Maria Police Department and about five years with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department. “I didn’t retire. I came back to work, and there’s a reason for it,” he added.

Stetson said that he was serving as bailiff in Judge James Herman’s courtroom shortly before noon, along with the part-time bailiff, when he received word that a teenager had lost consciousness in the lobby. Before leaving the courtroom to help, he called for an ambulance. The girl, who has a history of seizures, was lying on her back, unable to speak with labored breathing, according to Stetson.

He asked court staff to bring a blanket to cover the teen, who continued convulsing. “I’ve seen seizures before but this is probably one of the worst ones I’ve ever seen,” Stetson said. He cleared her airway of a piece of chewing gum, and the fits subsided slightly but then worsened again. “She got to the point where she stopped breathing,” Noting that the teenager still had a heartbeat, the deputy started rescue breathing. After three breaths from Stetson, the girl gasped for air and began breathing on her own. Stetson said he was so relieved, “you can’t believe it.”

Read more: http://www.santamariatimes.com/news/local/article_5a80ec50-5426-11df-97f2-001cc4c002e0.html

[FailureToCommunicate]

1. Everyone should take, or renew, the Red Cross lifesaving course!

[Javaman]

5. In June I go for my first reponder training. I can't wait! :) nt

[Democat]

2. Great story and good work to Mr. Stetson!

That girl was very lucky to have someone who knows CPR on hand.

[izquierdista]

3. Too few like him

How many others would have tasered the girl?

[Rozlee]

4. I have seizures. And that nice-looking man can get me in a lip lock any time he wants.

:evilgrin: