Washington, DC-MD-VA-WV (1888PressRelease)
March 05, 2008 - A 28 year-old Landover, Maryland man owes his life to the self-confidence and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training a 14 year-old Washington DC U.S. Naval Sea Cadet received last month and to the six Virginia nurses who volunteered to give up part of their Super Bowl Sunday to teach the course.
Geremiah Edness, a resident of Washington DC, and a member of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps Henry E. Mooberry Division, based at the Washington Navy Yard, was in the McPherson Square Metro train system on his way home from school when the unidentified man, known only as “Jason,” lost consciousness at about 4:20 p.m, yesterday. While other people gathered around, Edness used CPR training and the self-confidence he gained as a member of the Sea Cadets to take charge of the situation and save the man’s life.
“I immediately thought to stay cool and told myself that I know what to do,” Edness said. While others went to summon help, Edness told the crowd that he knew CPR, then went through the procedures taught to him at Sea Cadet training: observing the area for safety, checking the man's pulse and breathing, clearing his airway, and positioning him for CPR.
After determining that the young man's heart stopped, Cadet Edness performed CPR, including chest compressions. After several compressions, the man gasped and began breathing on his own, but was still disoriented. Describing his feelings at the time, “I was very proud of my training and how to apply it,” Edness told his family.
When Paramedics arrived, one of them asked Cadet Edness what authorization he had to give CPR. With the confidence of a person many times his age and proud of his Sea Cadet membership and training, Edness replied, “Geremiah Andre Edness, U.S. Naval Sea Cadet," then showed the medic his Sea Cadet Identification Card. The Paramedics thanked Cadet Edness for his help, then tended to the recovering patient.
SUPER SUNDAY - SUPER RESULTS
Edness and 36 other Sea Cadets, ranging from 10 to 17 years old, were trained in CPR on February 3, 2008 at Potomac Hospital in Woodbridge, VA. Janice K. Lavoie, a Director of Nursing at the hospital and a volunteer adult leader for the Sea Cadet unit, coordinated the training, which was conducted by Lavoie; Judy Merring, nurse educator at the hospital and a retired Naval Reserve Captain; and four other nurses, representing the hospital, Navy, and Air Force. All of the nurses volunteered their time, before heading home to watch the rest of the Super Bowl, when the course was completed.
The CPR training was the final training session the Sea Cadet unit held that weekend. Other training sessions included Abandon Ship Procedures; Survival Swimming and Water Rescue training at an indoor pool in Dale City, VA; and First Aid training aboard the Naval Ship, USS Barry, at the Washington Navy Yard.
Edness joined the Sea Cadet unit in December, 2007, along with his older brother, Garvey. Together, they, along with 30 other Cadets, attended a Shipboard Firefighting, Water Survival and Damage Control training weekend at Naval Weapons Station Earle, NJ, in January.
ON CLOUD NINE
Upon hearing about Cadet Edness’ efforts, Lavoie said, “I’m on Cloud Nine, this is great!” “This is wonderful,” exclaimed, Maureen Deutermann, a community education nurse at the hospital and one of the volunteer instructors. Janice Stephens of Washington, a mother of a fellow Sea Cadet said, “This is absolutely awesome!” Retired Navy Senior Chief Gerald Ruckman, a long-time advisor to the Sea Cadet unit, shared the joy - “Outstanding!,” he said. “Money well spent,” opined DC resident Lori Holland, mother of a former Sea Cadet.
“I am so proud of Sea Cadet Edness for applying his training with such courage,” Coast Guard Master Chief Mark Allen, President of the DC Chapter of the Chief Petty Officers Association, said. “Needless to say, we are very proud of Geremiah and thankful to the U. S. Naval Sea Cadet program for his being prepared to save a life” expressed Camille Hazeur, Cadet Edness’ guardian.
The U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps is a Congressionally chartered youth development program, sponsored by the Navy League of the United States and supported by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard. For over four decades, the program has taught males and females, age 10 to 17, and adult volunteers, age 18 and up, about leadership, honor, courage, commitment, respect and instilled self-confidence, self-reliance, patriotism, and an appreciation for the sea services, while keeping them away from gangs, drugs and other negative influences. The unit’s Commanding Officer is Lieutenant Joseph P Cirone, USNSCC of Woodbridge, VA. For more information, call 703-740-1138 or visit www.seacadetsdc.org
