Volunteers keep us safe

Sun., Nov. 25, 2007

The Spokesman-Review

A couple of weeks ago, I traveled to Providence, R.I. While having lunch at a restaurant, I heard a loud thud behind me. A woman was unconscious lying face down on the floor. The woman’s face was against a wall, so the manager and I rolled her on her back to assess whether she was breathing.

As we did this, I stabilized her neck and it appeared she was having a seizure.

While employees were calling 911, I held her head reassuring her that help was on the way. Eventually paramedics arrived and thankfully, she was not seriously injured.

After the emergency had passed, the manager asked if I was a doctor. I said no, but I do run a group called the Medical Reserve Corps.

The astonished look on her face surprised me. I think how I stepped in to help may have been unusual. I relay this story to compliment our community.

I’m privileged to work with numerous volunteers, the Spokane County Disaster Committee, and others working to keeping our region safe. I’m confident that my friends and neighbors would react exactly as I did.

This makes me proud to call Eastern Washington my home.

Gerald R. Bozarth, Director

Medical Reserve Corps of Eastern Washington

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.