The Pre-Dead Social Club will host “We Wish We Knew That!—Emergency or Not?” on Wednesday, March 4 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at the Kittery Community Center (Star Theater) in Kittery, ME featuring roundtable guests Eric Jaeger, EMS educator, paramedic and attorney, and Kate Tuttle, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse-Certified Nurse Practitioner (APRN-CNP). The discussion will be facilitated by Laura Cleminson, end-of-life doula and Founder of the Pre-Dead Social Club.

This discussion is an opportunity for people to feel more prepared, rather than panicked, when a loved one’s time comes. Unknowingly, individuals can undermine the end-of-life wishes of someone they are caring for by calling 911 or performing CPR. The roundtable discussion will cover the realities of a 911 call, common mistakes and misconceptions, legal and medical protocols that override personal wishes, and how to prepare now—for when.

The mission of the Pre-Dead Social Club is to bring fresh energy to vital conversations about dying and death, fostering understanding among individuals, loved ones, and the professionals they rely on. Through events such as this one, they are working to cultivate clarity, build confidence, and advocate for compassionate, personalized end-of-life experiences.

“We are excited to be reprising this important ‘We Wish We Knew That!’ topic and to bring Eric and Kate back for another discussion related to DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) medical orders and how those intersect with the realities of dialing 911,” said Laura Cleminson, end-of-life doula and founder of the Pre-Dead Social Club. “We invite caregivers, individuals with life-limiting or terminal diagnosis, members of the medical community, medical students, death doulas and individuals who have agreed to be someone’s Medical Power of Attorney (health care proxy/advocate), to join us as we discuss real life scenarios that will help illuminate what first responders require in order to honor your, or your loved ones, wishes.”

"I took the info regarding DNR to heart and discussed it with my primary care doctor at a regularly scheduled visit, which took place shortly after the event,” reported an attendee from last year’s event. “Given my current age and health and that of my husband, this is knowledge that will be useful at some point down the road. We'll revisit the discussion and consideration for a DNR given our health, what is important to us and will display it on the fridge and tell our children."

Eric Jaeger is an attorney, paramedic and EMS educator. He holds a Bachelor of Science from MIT and a Juris Doctor from Boston College Law School. Eric is also an American Heart Association CPR teaching faculty. For ten years, he was the EMS educator at the Exeter Hospital emergency department. He lectures frequently, including at national and state conferences, including on issues related to DNR and Advance Directives.

Kate Tuttle is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse-Certified Nurse Practitioner (APRN-CNP) with over ten years of experience in palliative care and hospice she currently is a primary care provider on the Seacoast. Additionally, Kate is a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse who is passionate about end-of-life planning and goals of care discussions. Having worked in hospitals, she’s witnessed resuscitation attempts and ICU outcomes, emphasizing the importance of clear decision-making and proper documentation for those wishing for a natural death. She is dedicated to helping patients and families navigate these difficult conversations and ensuring that individuals’ wishes are respected.

Facilitator Laura Cleminson is the Founder of the Pre-Dead Social Club, an INELDA-trained death doula, hospice volunteer and a member of the NH Health Care Decisions Coalition. Through hundreds of conversations at Pre-Dead Social Club events, she’s heard many talk about what they don’t want to have happen to them with their end-of-life in mind, but the vast majority don’t understand the criticality of having valid paperwork or they believe they have what they need, but don’t. We have less agency than we think when it comes to dialing 911 and having our wishes met in our own homes if we cannot speak for ourselves–which is often the case. It’s critical we educate ourselves. EMT’s want to honor our wishes and we need to provide the proper documentation to allow them to do so. That is the meat of this roundtable.

Tickets for “We Wish We Knew That!” are $10 per person for Pre-Dead Social Club Members; $12 for not-yet-members. Advance purchase is recommended and online ticketing fees apply. The Star Theater at the Kittery Community Center is located at 120 Rogers Road in Kittery, ME.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.predeadsocialclub.com.