Souda Spotlight: Miguel Saul, Firefighter

Story and photo by Joel Diller, Public Affairs

Miguel Saul, originally from Orange County, Calif., joined the Navy when he was 23 years old and served as a hospital corpsman for five years. After leaving the Navy, he earned his paramedic license and became a firefighter at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. He joined our Fire & Emergency Service’s team in August 2020 and is in the Souda Spotlight for his role in keeping Team Souda safe and qualified to perform CPR.

Have you been a firefighter at any other bases?

This is actually my second time on the island. The first time I was here was for about two and a half years and then I went to Rhode Island to take a firefighter position there. Now, I’m fortunate enough to be able to come back and work at Souda Bay again. This really is an incredible department to work for.

Are you in charge of any programs?

Yes, I’m in charge of the community CPR program here. I’d like to put out there that this is for everybody. It’s free of charge. If you have access to the base, please get in contact with us here, or me personally, and we can schedule a class for your entire department. Again, it’s free of charge and we can even come to you, if that’s easier.

Have you taught any CPR classes?

Yes, so we’ve had the opportunity to teach about 90 people on base who are now qualified to perform CPR. Our overall goal is to continue to push for 100 percent of base employees to be CPR certified.

What should someone expect if they sign up for a course?

The course is approximately two and a half hours long. It’s mainly hands-on. There is a PowerPoint portion of it, but it’s mainly hands-on with practical skills. The goal is to encourage people to start CPR and actually feel good about doing it. We want them to feel confident in themselves to perform CPR when it’s needed. The hardest part about CPR, and I say this in every class, is actually making the decision to start CPR. After that, the rest is easy

What do you like to do outside the office?

I love to walk. I love to take long hikes. My favorite has been walking from the Agia Triada Monastery to Stavros Beach through the canyon. I recommend this hike to everyone because it’s easy and relatively short. It’s always great to be outdoors, surrounded by the incredible scenery of Crete.

Are you here with your family?

I’m here with my wonderful wife of ten years, Carolyn, and my amazing dogs, Kepler and Brinkley. My dogs are both over two years of age but still act like puppies. When they’re not sleeping on the couch, they’re chewing holes in my socks. It’s definitely time to buy them new toys.