Wine Blog
"Juicy Tales by Jo Diaz"

Have you ever saved a life?

When a gentleman was on the floor in a Tobacco/Magazine shop in Lewiston, Maine, at least in the 70s, I did.

I had gone to buy a magazine, and heard groaning on the other side of the rack. I was in the women’s section, and a man was on the other side, in the men’s magazines. All I could hear were the groans, and I was hesitant to take a look. Curiosity got the best of me, though, because the sounds were getting louder. A gentleman was on the floor, his chest was heaving through his ski jacket, and he was holding himself, trying to ease the pain. I snapped into action. I grabbed his tightly zipped jacket and just tore it open to relive that pressure. I called to the clerk, “Call an ambulance! NOW!” It came. He made it. Later I thought, “How did I tear open that jacket like it was made of paper?” Adrenaline is an amazing thing.

With what I’ve learned, preparing the following press release below from what I was learning about AEDs, it has let me understand that even without knowing how to use an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED), I’d be able to use one. And, I would, without batting an eyelash, again. That said, I’d be even better prepared if I had Red Cross training.

These devices have easy to follow instruction, I’ve been told. So, if you can read and have great automatic reflexes in an emergency, success rate is much better if you at least try, than if you do nothing.

The following is newsworthy for winery readers and consumers in Sonoma County. It offers some comfort for those with heart problems, and for those who aren’t yet aware of even having a problem, for all of Sonoma County wineries and their visitors. This is going to be the “safe valley.”

Tis the season for giving, and this could result in a gift of life…

This sustainability and safety program is designed to keep everyone at a Sonoma County winery safe and saved, if necessary.

In order for a winery in Sonoma County to qualify to receive a ZOLL AED PLUS, Sonoma County winery owners or representatives must contact Ron Rubin at ron@ronrubinwinery.com.

STEP 1

After a winery’s qualifications are approved to receive a ZOLL AED PLUS, it will be promptly contacted, by a representative from the American Red Cross, to schedule CPR/AED/First Aid training for the winery’s team. Winery participants will cover the cost of their staff training.

To date, the following wineries have taken advantage of this important life-saving program.

All of the above Sonoma County wine companies have already committed to the Trained for Saving Lives program. Now, if you have a Sonoma County winery, this is a great gift for your staff. They, too, may get to save a life one day. You never know.

Tags: American Red Cross, Amista Vineyards, Amphora Wines, Balletto Wines, Cartograph Wines, Christopher Creek Winery, Dry Creek Winery, Family Wineries Dry Creek, Francis Ford Coppola, Geyserville, Hamel Family Wines, Healdsburg, Kenwood, Mauritson Wines, Medlock Ames Winery, Michael David Winery, Muscardini Cellars, Owl Ridge Wines, Rack & Riddle, Ramey Wine Cellars, Ron Rubin Winery, Santa Rosa, Sonoma, Thomas George Estates Winery, Trained for Saving Lives, Virginia Dare, ZOLL Medical Corporation