During the late afternoon of April 10, Correctional Officer Arana brought inmate David R. Tarvin back to life.
“My heart quit, and I was dead,” Tarvin said. “I want to express my sincere and heartfelt appreciation for Officer Arana’s knowledge and extraordinary professionalism.”
Arana said when he found Tarvin, he was unresponsive and without a pulse.
Sgt. Dougery was working the Lower Yard when the incident occurred.
“I called Control and informed them that Tarvin was not breathing,” Dougery said. “Once the medical staff of the Treatment Triage Area arrived, I retrieved (an) Amu-Bag, which is used to supply oxygen to the person. I then began giving rescue breaths while Arana did chest compressions.”
“Medical staff knew exactly what was happening and exactly where to go but were not sure at first of the seriousness of the situation because when I called it in, I spoke as clearly and calmly as I could,” said Correctional Officer Whitted, who was Arana’s partner. “Medical staff used the AED once on Tarvin and they were preparing to shock him again when the machine registered a pulse.”
Tarvin was subsequently transported to Marin General Hospital, where two stents were implanted in his blocked arteries
Whitted is an 18-year veteran of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and has been at San Quentin his entire career. “It was unfortunate that this had to happen, and I just did what I had to do,” Whitted said. “We are not here to punish anyone. That has already been done by a court. I try to stay above judgment and do my job in a professional manner.”
Arana began his CDCR career at San Quentin six years ago. He noted that correctional officers are trained to perform their duties in a professional manner.
“I am part of a team,” he said. “The medical staff and those at the hospital were also an important part of saving his life.”
“When something like this happens, you just react based on your training. I do not think about who it is,” Whitted said. “I would do the same thing for anyone: custody, free-staff or inmate. I hope Mr. Tarvin is well.”
