It’s easy these days to focus on all the things wrong with our city and state, but this week there was much good to celebrate.
Juneauites have their differences — lots of them. Rarely do we agree on the direction of government, spending priorities, and so on. But none of that matters when tragedy strikes. If there’s one thing the majority of residents do well and can agree on, it’s taking care of each other.
We were reminded of that this week — twice, in fact.
Last week, Tommy Vrabec, Peter Fergin, George Crowder and members of Capital City Fire/Rescue were honored for saving the life of a man, Stephen Hamilton, who went into cardiac arrest while at the Juneau Racquet Club in January. Two of the men began CPR on Hamilton, and Vrabec relied on EMT training from high school while using JRC’s defibrillator to shock Hamilton back to life.
[On tennis court, savings a life is no racket]
These individuals are nothing short of heroes. CCFR Chief Richard Etheridge said it best during the July 29 ceremony: “You took the training to know what to do, and you stepped in and did it. A lot of times, people will kind of step back and say, ‘I don’t want to be involved,’ but you guys jumped right in.”
Two days after that ceremony, it was the Carriker family’s chance to save the day when a Dolphin Jet Boat Tours vessel began sinking in Favorite Channel.
The tour vessel Big Red had 18 people on board and was going down fast in frigid waters. Luckily, the Carriker’s boat “Sea Ya” wasn’t far away and got most of the passengers on their boat before the Big Red went under completely.
[Family’s fast actions save lives at sea]
An Allen Marine boat also came to the rescue, as did two unidentified people on a skiff who didn’t hang around to receive thanks.
In big ways and small, Juneauites always respond to a call for help. Whether its saving passengers and crew on a sinking vessel and performing CPR on a stranger, or helping local nonprofits in need or families fallen on hard times, the people of Juneau heed the call.
It’s acts like these that make Juneau a place we’re proud to call home.
