Flint judge’s CPR rescue inspires courthouse training

The 67th District Court in Flint closed for a day so more than a dozen court and county employees could take hands-only CPR and automated external defibrillator training.

The training followed an experience Judge Herman Marable Jr. had last October while attending a work conference in New York City. He saw a man lying in the street. His friends were trying to revive him.

As people nearby walked past, the judge stopped to perform CPR.

“There were people walking by on the sidewalk and they were completely ignoring this situation that was going on. That’s why I jumped out of the car,” Marable said. “Maybe that’s just how they roll in New York, but I’m not from New York. I’m from Michigan.”

Marable had learned CPR when he was 12 and kept his training card in his wallet for more than 50 years before using the skill.

“You never know when you’re going to need it,” Marable said. “Thankfully, it wasn’t this young man’s time to go. They told me at the hospital that I had saved his life.”

One year later, Marable’s peers at the courthouse learned the same life-saving tool from Champions of the Heart.

The nonprofit was founded by former Michigan State University assistant basketball coach Mike Garland. Garland started the organization after two strangers performed CPR when he went into cardiac arrest following a car crash.

“All I remember was getting to the light. I don’t really even remember turning left,” Garland said. “We went off the road. My wife explained to me, we hit a tree. Fortunately for me they started CPR on me right away within that first four critical minutes that actually really saves your life.”

Garland honored his rescuers with lifesaver awards, the same award given to Judge Marable. He wants people to know, you don’t have to be a certified trainer to save someone’s life.

Marable has received multiple honors for his New York city rescue, but this training is more meaningful to him.

“It’s more important that people are inspired to learn how to do this,” Marable said. “I mean, that’s the gift for me.”