First Aid Training Saves Lives on Marco Island

Medical emergencies don’t wait for the “right” time or place. Sometimes, they happen when you least expect them—like 8:00 AM on a quiet Monday at the marina.

Just a couple of weeks ago, Caroline Hugo, a well-known sailing instructor on Marco Island, was preparing a coach boat for a private lesson when she fell on the floating dock. One leg went through an opening and was severely cut by hidden oysters beneath the surface. Alone and injured, she managed to call a colleague for help. Sal, a staff member, came running. He found her bleeding heavily and immediately sprang into action: he used a shirt to form a tourniquet, elevated her leg, called 911, and retrieved a first aid kit from a nearby boat. Two others, Debbie and I, assisted by flagging down the ambulance and following it to the ER.

What made this response so effective? First aid training.

Sal and Debbie had recently completed a CPR/AED and First Aid course—training that gave them the confidence and skills to stay calm and take the right steps in those first critical minutes. The paramedics were quick to commend their response, and they proudly credited their training.

Sal and Debbie took their classes with Geoff Fahringer, who teaches regularly for the Marco Island Power Squadron. Geoff is a dedicated and knowledgeable instructor offering CPR, AED, and First Aid courses to the community. The class schedule is published monthly in the Coastal Breeze News and is also available online at: https://marcoboatingclub.org/meetings-events/upcoming-events.

You never know when an accident will happen, but when it does, training can make all the difference. I encourage everyone to take the time to sign up. Knowing what to do doesn’t just help, it can save a life.