Geauga County has recognized the valiant efforts of one of its own — 911 Dispatcher Heather Eskridge, a veteran with over three decades of service. Eskridge, who has been the calm during countless storms, shared an intimate peek behind the console in a social media post this week. A mother to two daughters and a friend to many four-legged companions, Eskridge's experience on December 7, 2021, stood out as a poignant reminder of her critical role in the community.
In the course of her duties, Eskridge received a call that would thoroughly test her resolve: a man electrocuted while hanging Christmas lights, unresponsive and in desperate need of aid. She coached the caller to perform life-saving CPR, knowing full well the weight of the festive season would only amplify the family's distress.
Days later, the Chester Fire Department informed Eskridge that her guidance had been a success—the man survived and was on the path to recovery. This act of heroism earned her a life-saving award, an honor that transcends the routine expectations of her job. As Eskridge herself recounts on the Geauga County Sheriff's Office Facebook page, "I was honored to receive a life-saving award for my role in this incident."
