The Critical Link: Why Mountain Living Requires Each of Us to Be First Responders
- Michael Schmitt
- Aug 13
- 4 min read
Living in our rural mountain district offers a lifestyle many only dream of—unobstructed views, quiet mornings, and a deep connection to nature. We accept that this tranquility comes with trade-offs. A trip to the grocery store takes planning, your kids' daily activities in town, a good amount of coordination, and a heavy snowfall means we might be snowed in for a day or two.
But there is one trade-off we can’t afford to be complacent about: emergency medical response times.
The Reality of the Golden Minutes While it is a common misconception that sudden cardiac arrest only happens to the elderly, the reality is that life-threatening emergencies requiring CPR can strike anyone, at any age, without warning. A seemingly healthy teenager or young adult can experience a sudden cardiac event due to an undiagnosed congenital heart condition or even a blunt impact to the chest during a sports activity. Furthermore, CPR is the essential first-line response for a wide spectrum of sudden crises that halt breathing or a heartbeat, such as severe trauma from vehicle or outdoor accidents, drownings, electrocution, choking, and severe allergic reactions.
Because these unpredictable emergencies can happen to a child at a family gathering, a young adult on a remote mountain trail, or a neighbor working outside, having community members trained in CPR ensures that immediate, life-saving action can be taken regardless of the victim's age or underlying health.
When sudden cardiac arrest strikes, the heart stops pumping blood to the brain and vital organs. Every minute that passes without cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation decreases the chances of survival by 7% to 10%.
In a city, an ambulance might be three to five minutes away. In a rural mountain district, factors like winding dirt roads, unpredictable weather, and sheer distance can stretch response times to 15, 20, or even 30 minutes or longer in inclement weather. A neighboring district had a birth in a kitchen with a responder there when the driveway was snowed in. There have been situations with a less favorable outcome in other examples because no immediate help was provided. This is normal. Why not make it an exception for people to not be CPR qualified? In some countries it is even a requirement to obtain a drivers license.
The harsh reality: If we rely solely on dispatched emergency medical services (EMS) during a cardiac event in the mountains, the ambulance will likely arrive too late.
As A Family Member, You Are The First Responder
This isn't a failure of our local EMS. Sunshine FPD has a consistent record of quality EMS, and so do other agencies in the County. Our medical responders do an incredible job navigating difficult terrain and conditions, but they cannot defy physics or biology in absence.
This means that the true first responders in our community aren't the ones in uniform—they are YOU. They are the spouses, the neighbors, the hiking partners, and the bystanders at the local coffee shop or overpriced semi-organic grocery store. When you learn CPR, you become the vital bridge that keeps oxygen flowing to a loved one's brain until the professionals arrive with advanced life support.
Why Bystander CPR Changes Everything
When performed immediately, CPR can double or triple a person's chance of surviving a cardiac arrest. The process of chest compressions acts as a manual pump, doing the work the heart temporarily cannot do. By itself it is not a difficult task, but it does have to be learned and practiced in order to do it correctly.
Here is why community-wide training is essential for mountain towns:
It requires no equipment: Hands-only CPR requires nothing but your own physical effort and knowledge.
It buys time: High-quality compressions preserve brain function, giving EMS a fighting chance to revive the patient once they arrive with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and medication.
It builds community resilience: The more residents who are certified, the safer our entire district becomes. Whether on a remote trail or at the community center, the presence of a trained neighbor is a safety net for everyone.
Taking Action
Learning CPR is neither difficult nor time-consuming. Modern courses focus on straightforward, hands-only techniques that are easy to remember under stress. A typical certification class takes just a few hours—a tiny investment of time that could literally mean the difference between life and death for someone you care about. Our class has a short online portion for you to then focus on the practical aspects of adult and infant CPR.
We chose to live in the mountains because we value independence and community. Getting certified in CPR is the ultimate expression of both. It empowers you to handle the worst-case scenario, and it demonstrates a profound commitment to the neighbors who share this beautiful, rugged landscape with you.
Don't wait for an emergency to wish you knew what to do! Our Medical Officer and fellow resident, Dr. David Begleiter, teaches a CPR certification course right here in Sunshine. There is an individual learning portion that participants complete on line first and then a hands-on portion at Station #1. David makes that class interesting and fun, and when you have completed the course, you will leave with a sense of confidence that you really could help save the life of a family member or neighbor in a medical emergency.
The next scheduled class will include the practice portion on Sunday, November 22. The cost of the course is $65, which covers the District’s costs. If you are interested, please email David at David B. If you are unable to afford the registration fee, please let David know; other community members are willing to fund registrations to ensure that everyone can become certified. Please sign up!
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