MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
A Hutchinson firefighter’s vacation to Florida turned into a lifesaving moment when he jumped into action at Epcot after seeing a woman collapse in line for a ride.
Engineer Jacob Younger, assigned to Hutchinson Fire Department Station 3, was on a long-planned trip with high school friends when he noticed an older woman suddenly grab her chest, her mouth drop open, and her eyes go blank before falling to the ground.
“There were a lot of people around her, so it was hard to tell what was happening,” Younger said. “I told one of the Disney workers, and they said help was on the way. But the more I watched, it didn’t look like she was breathing. Nothing was getting better, so I went back to see if I could help.”
Trained as both a firefighter and EMT, Younger quickly realized the woman had no pulse. “That’s when I jumped in to start CPR,” he said. “I did compressions until the paramedics arrived and kept helping until the fire crew took over.”
Just this past week, Younger’s battalion chief told him that the woman had survived and walked out of the hospital — a rare outcome for an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
Hutchinson Fire Chief Steven Beer said, "I proud of the men and women of our department still doing what they do even when they are not on duty."
“The type of guy you want on your team”
Captain Calen Dunn, who works alongside Younger at Station 3, said he wasn’t surprised by his engineer’s quick response — even while off duty.
“I’ve had him since July, when we both got promoted at the same time,” Dunn said. “He’s one of those guys who’ll do anything for you — the type you always want on your team.”
Station 3, located in south Hutchinson, is one of the city’s busiest stations, handling a steady stream of medical and emergency calls. As an engineer, Younger is responsible for safely navigating the fire engine through city streets, positioning it correctly at scenes, and managing water flow during structure fires.
“It takes a lot of skill and attention to detail,” Dunn said. “He’s the one doing the math, making sure everything flows right. That same mindset carries over to medical calls — it’s all about precision and staying calm under pressure.”
Training, Dedication, and Heart
Hutchinson firefighters respond to far more medical calls than fires, and all are EMT-certified. Their training allows them to provide life-saving care within minutes — often arriving before EMS.
“The fire department has more stations across town, so we’re often first on scene,” Dunn said. “Everyone on the truck can assess and start treatment. When EMS arrives, we already have vital information and can help speed things along.”
He added that most cardiac arrests aren’t witnessed and that survival rates are low. “To have someone survive like that — it’s incredible. And Jacob didn’t do it for recognition. He just did what was right.”
Younger performed three to four full rounds of compressions without stopping — a physically demanding effort that Dunn said demonstrated both training and endurance. “It’s exhausting work,” Dunn said. “But that’s what we train for. When the department later sent him a challenge coin and told him the person survived, that meant a lot. Challenge coins really mean something in the fire service.”
“We’re Called to Do It”
Both Dunn and Younger said the profession is built on service and integrity, not accolades.
“We’re here because it’s what we’re called to do,” Dunn said. “The pat on the back is nice, but that’s not why we’re here. If someone’s in it for that, they’re probably in the wrong profession.”
For Younger, the reward is simple: “You’re showing up on a stranger’s worst day and making a difference,” he said. “That’s what makes this job so rewarding.”