WaterStone Bank Salute to Service – sponsored by General Communications and The Packing House
Nurses are often called upon to fill many roles in the care and treatment of patients. Sometimes they are even called into action when they’re not on the job.
While on vacation with family in Chicago to watch her three daughters compete in a dance competition, Registered Nurse Mary Maerker found herself in a life or death situation, not in a medical facility, but at a local Panera restaurant.
As they were sitting down to eat, Mary heard a loud commotion on the other side of the seating area. Her instincts told her something was wrong, and she immediately sprang into action.
After a quick assessment, she immediately started performing CPR on a man who had stopped breathing. After a few moments, the man responded, and then local paramedics took over from Mary.
Her immediate actions save the man’s life.
“I had to do a couple of chest compressions and when he started gasping for air, I told him several times that everything was going to be okay,” Mary said.
For her incredible life saving efforts while off duty, Mary Maerker is one of our Salute to Service honorees for 2020.
WaterStone Bank Salute to Service is a Wisconsin Broadcasters Association 2020 award winner for Best Community Impact.
