Guerin back on her feet after fainting at Susan Collins event

Sen. Stacey Guerin, R-Glenburn has recovered after fainting during a ceremony for the new Kenduskeag library on Aug. 26 and being taken to a Bangor hospital.

“I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who reached out following my brief episode of dehydration at yesterday’s library event in Kenduskeag,” Guerin said in a statement.

“I am particularly grateful to Senator Susan Collins for her attentive care, kindness and compassion while we waited for emergency services. I also want to express my deepest appreciation to the always professional crew at Kenduskeag/Levant Rescue for their swift response and exceptional care.

“I am feeling great today and fully back on my feet!”

Guerin was awake and talking with people around her, including Collins, before the ambulance arrived around 11:30 a.m. The 68-year-old fainted while Collins was speaking about the importance of the library and the history of final trusses of buildings being erected. 

Guerin did not speak before she was transported to the hospital.

Four Kenduskeag first responders were at the event and called for the ambulance while attending to Guerin, who fell on her front near a corner of the front entrance being built. Guerin was able to talk with people around her shortly after she fell, Kenduskeag Select Board Chris Young said.

“She went down pretty hard, but she was back quickly and talking with us,” Young said.

Guerin told the paramedics, Young and others around her that she doesn’t have a history of fainting or passing out and thought it was from the heat, Young said. There was little to no shade or cloud coverage at the event and the temperature was around 80 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Bottles of water were passed out after Guerin fell.

Although Guerin got up quickly and was helped by the paramedics and firefighters at the event, the ambulance was called out of “precaution,” Young said. She was taken to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center.

Guerin was first elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 2010. She was then elected to the Maine Senate in 2018 and was reelected in 2020. Guerin is term limited and cannot run for reelection this year. Guerin’s husband, Joseph Guerin, campaigned for the seat in a primary earlier this year but lost to Rep. Chad Perkins, R-Dover-Foxcroft.

After the ambulance left, the event continued. Collins, who had been kneeling with Guerin while she was on the ground, spoke briefly before the truss was signed and put in place, saying Guerin asked for the event to go on despite her not being there.

“Stacey said we should continue. She knows how important this library is for the community,” Collins said.

Collins attended the event because she secured a $1 million earmark for the library in 2024. The senator also appropriated $3.5 million for a Kenduskeag Fire Station earlier this year. The station will be built on the open lot next to the library on Broadway in the coming years. The Republican up for reelection this year did not take questions from reporters after the event.

Young said the ability to have paramedics and firefighters at the scene emphasized how important the proposed station and other support for the town’s first responders is.

“This shows why small towns need these resources,” Young said.

“Yesterday was a good reminder of how quickly hot, sunny days can catch up to us, and I encourage everyone to stay safe and drink plenty of water as we enjoy the warm weather,” Guerin said. “Thank you again to all the folks from both sides of the aisle who have checked in on me — your kindness and support mean more than I can say.

The Bangor Daily News’ Kasey Turman contributed to this story.