About Me

My photo
Nazareth, Pa., United States

Friday, April 04, 2014

Deputies Honored For Saving Lawyer's Life


He was clinically dead. Last November, Bethlehem Attorney Richard Schaedler collapsed outside a Northampton County courtroom while waiting to present a motion. His doctor later called it sudden, cardiac death SCD), the leading cause of natural death in the United States. His heart stopped, and remained stopped, for seven minutes. But thanks to the training and dedication of ten Deputy Sheriffs who would not give up, a faint heartbeat eventually returned. Sill unconscious, Schaedler was rushed to Easton Hospital. But after weeks in a coma, he's made a full recovery and has returned to his law offices on Lehigh Street. He also made a special trip to the courthouse. At Council's April 3 meeting, Scaedler personally thanked each deputy. They were rewarded with a standing ovation, something Council has never done before for anyone. Each deputy also received a Letter of Commendation.

Atty Rich Schaedler
They were able to save Attorney Schaedler's life because they had the training and the right equipment. They belong to one of only two accredited Sheriff Departments in the state, are required to attend 19 weeks of academy training, and are also trained in "emergency care". This includes CPR, first aid, oxygen administration and the use of an AED (Automated External Defibrillator).  


Certification is a process started years ago by Sheriff Jeff Hawbecker. It was carried to fruition by Sheriff Randy Miller in 2011 and has been continued by Acting Sheriff Chris Zieger. He told Council he was happy to be there, not to ask for money, but to honor his deputies.

The deputies recognized were Sergeants Jeffrey Heller and Timothy Hornbaker as well as Deputies Brian,
Gretchen Kraemer is a former Bethlehem police officer
Budraitis, Elaine Feliciano, Gretchen Kraemer, Scott Kuehner, Jeffrey Schuler, Ethan Segreaves, Mark Surber and James "Tommy" Underwood.

Schaedler, a prominent real estate expert, is a Hellertown resident and former Saucon School Board member. He is known best for his love of hockey and the Mets. He has practiced law since 1978.

Executive John Brown told Council, "I think it's important to acknowledge that, in the County,we have a great workforce."

Rich and I grew up together in Hellertown.
Atty Schaedler thanks each Deputy
I wonder if I would be so lucky. I bumped into Coroner Zach Lysek today, and what he tells me is not so promising.

"Bernie, we already have the toe tag filled out and a spot waiting for you. We're just waiting to fill in the date. How's your pulse?"

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

How old is Atty. Schaelder. I may have gone to school with him.

Anonymous said...

Great story. Good job to everyone involved.

maverick said...

Great story indeed. BTW, the part about running into the coroner is too funny- Bernie, I'll do your eulogy AND be a pallbearer....

SheIsHot said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Bernie O'Hare said...

Rich is 62-63. Graduated Moravian in '74.

Anonymous said...

I wasn't going to read it but after reading the comments I had to for the comical releaf?
THANX
redd
patent pending

Bernie O'Hare said...

I'm surprised there have been no lawyer jokes.

Anonymous said...

Great story. Are first responders in PA covered by a Good Samaritan law?

Bernie O'Hare said...

To some extent.Obviously, if they decide to do an appendectomy, they'd be in trouble. But for emergency treatment, they should be ok.

http://www.concentric.net/~Maxfax/files/law2.htm

Anonymous said...

How many lawyer jokes are there?

Just two, all the rest are true.

Anonymous said...

yeah so some previous administrations did something right...imagine if it was your life saved...?

Bernie O'Hare said...

The push for this kind of training started with Jeff Hawbecker in the waning days of Glenn Reibman. He continued to advance it until he retired. Randy Miller carried the torch from there, and Chris Zeiger (Acting Sheriff) is another advocate.

But they would be the first to tell you the credit lies with the deputies who take this very seriously.

My apologies for not having better pictures. I do my best and Council allowed me to jump all over during the ceremony, but the lighting is bad and I am just not as good at that as deputies are at saving lives.

Bernie O'Hare said...

1:33, that's the best you can do? Deputies were unable to find a heartbeat bc no lawyer has a heart.

I'm glad Rich is well, but he has known me many years and understands my twisted humor.

Alan Earnshaw said...

OK, you asked for it. Why do surgeons like operating on lawyers?

They're heartless, brainless, spineless, gutless, and the head and rear end are interchangeable!

Anonymous said...

He is very lucky, only about three percent of CPR patients make a full recovery. See link
http://www.upworthy.com/the-way-doctors-think-about-death-is-pretty-different-from-the-way-their-patients-do?c=ufb1

Anonymous said...

There are angels among us. Many of them train long and hard to be angels. I'm glad they're there. Your photos are fine and regularly improving. I suggest you try a simple move for better photos. Make certain the subjects fill the frame, no space above the heads, bottoms of photos to either the waist (for closer shots) or just below the feet. This is usually accomplished with the slightest tilt of the camera/phone. Never cut off feet when taking a full length photo. Don't leave space above heads. Good luck and continued good work.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Thanks very much for the photography advice. I need it.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Thanks very much for the photography advice. I need it.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Very good, Alan.

Anonymous said...

I would love to see the overtime bill the taxpayers of Norco paid for these deputies to show up for their awards.

Bernie O'Hare said...

What an asshole you must be!