Would you know what to do if someone nearby had a heart attack?

Fortunately for a patron at Sky Ute Casino on March 24, employees had been trained in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, and the casino also has nine automated external defibrillators on the property.

The employees did everything correctly when the person went into cardiac arrest, said Barbara Lawson, a volunteer with Heart Safe La Plata, which places AEDs around the area and trains people in their proper use, as well as in CPR.

They recognized the situation was an emergency, called 911, then started CPR and used the defibrillator, restarting the victim’s heart.

The casino staffers, Lynette Whitethrone-Caldron, George Doscher, Louis Valencia, Leroy Olbert, Joe Caldron and Leora Lucero, “were the first responders,” Lawson said at a ceremony on June 10 at the casino honoring them and medical staff from the Los Pinos Fire Protection District.

“It’s a really long chain of events when you have a survival,” Lawson said of the many people involved to save a life. “Five minutes seems like an eternity.”

After the casino staff started treatment, EMTs and paramedics arrived from Los Pinos Fire Protection District and took over treatment. The patient was transported to an emergency room and survived.

The Los Pinos staffers were Tyrun Harris, Dominik Marquez, Tony Stephens and Norm Niesen, a paramedic who is now retired. Los Pinos’ medical responses are overseen by Stephen Burns, the department’s clinic coordinator paramedic.

Gene Jaques, a security agent at the casino, oversees Sky Ute’s CPR program and instructs employees in CPR.

He said about 100 employees are certified in CPR out of the 400-plus who work at the casino.

“We try to teach the community that this could save your life, or one of your relatives,” Jaques said.

Added Lawson: “Thanks to all of you for doing your jobs and making this a safer community to live and work.” All of the responders received a certificate and a pin with a heart on it reading “I Made CPR Count.”

More information about Heart Safe, including CPR training and getting a defibrillator placed with a business or organization, is available at http://www.heartsafelaplata.org or via email at [email protected].

The group’s website also has maps showing where AEDs are located throughout the county, including in Ignacio, Vallecito and Bayfield.