Maintaining houses, hearts

Photo By Cpl. Sarah Cherry | At first, the ownerless dog walking down the Laurel Bay streets drew more interest from Arvel Graham and Sayward Hackett than a mother holding her infant daughter. Graham and Hackett, both maintenance technicians for Atlantic Marine Corps Communities, were on their way to perform maintenance at a different home.  

BEAUFORT, SC, UNITED STATES

07.11.2014

Story by Cpl. Sarah Cherry 

Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort

At first, the ownerless dog walking down the Laurel Bay streets drew more interest from Arvel Graham and Sayward Hackett than a mother holding her infant daughter.

“We stopped to see whose dog it was and noticed a resident outside talking on the phone and patting her baby on the back, but it didn’t look out of place,” said Graham.

Graham and Hackett, both maintenance technicians for Atlantic Marine Corps Communities, were on their way to perform maintenance at a different home.

“I looked back over and she was kneeling and crying and still on the phone,” said Graham.

The resident was on thephone with 911 because her daughter had stopped breathing.

“We went over and Graham took the baby and held her face down on his forearm and patted her back. Her face was blue and she was drooling a lot,” said Hackett.

All AMCC maintenance technicians are trained in CPR, although it’s rarely needed, he said.

“After a while, she started responding and breathing again and we gave her back to her mom,” said Graham.

Graham and Hackett said they stayed calm and reassured the mother to help her stay calm as well until emergency services arrived.

“There was no hesitation in either one of us, helping was just a reaction. I think everyone who works here is like that,” said Hackett.
Graham added, “If you see someone who needs help, you should help them.”

• Date Taken: 07.11.2014
• Date Posted: 07.11.2014 10:59
• Story ID: 135864
• Location: BEAUFORT, SC, US