Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Travis Decker | 190608-N-KC192-0012 EARLE, N.J. (June 08, 2019) Information Systems Technician 2nd...... read more read more
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On March 30, 2019, Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Taylor Folmar, just arrived to her apartment in Virginia Beach, Va., after a long drive from South Carolina visiting her boyfriend. Exhuasted she decided to lay down for a nap. Little did she know, the events that would follow would be something she would never forget.
“We need help! Our baby is choking!,” Folmar heard someone yelling at her front door. “’He’s not breathing,’ It was the neighbors,” Folmar said. “They knew I was in the military and might be able to help.”
The six-month old baby boy was unresponsive. Realizing the severity of the situation, The Southport, N. C. native, knew she needed to react quickly and do whatever she could to help. She was nervous, but confident in providing life saving assistance due to the training she received on board the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) where she is currently assigned.
“I grabbed the baby and first checked to see if he had anything in his throat,” said Folmar. “I didn’t see anything so I started the Heimlich on him. He still wasn’t responding, so I picked him up and patted him on the back and the butt to try and see if he was choking on anything.”
All Folmar could think about was how bad it would be for the family. What if she couldn’t get the baby to breathe again.
“I continued to do the heimlich a few more times,” said Folmar. “Then right as I was about to start mouth-to-mouth, he finally coughed. I started to pat his back and more coughing followed. He opened his eyes and looked around the room like he was almost in shock.”
Folmar utilized her first-aide training to check for the infant’s circulation and airway to restore the child’s breathing while keeping him comfortable and stable until the paramedics arrived on scene.
“I was able to tell the baby’s mother and grandmother that he was okay,” said Folmar. “I have never been so happy; my whole body was shaking. I was beyond thrilled that the baby was breathing again.”
Folmar credits Bataan’s medical training team as the reason she knew just what to do.
“A lot of what I know is due to the training here on the ship,” said Folmar. “You really don’t know this stuff unless you get the proper training and even then, you need to keep up with it so you don’t forget.”
The baby’s grandfather, a retired Marine Gunny Sgt, witnessing Folmar’s quick actions couldn’t keep it to himself. He asked Folmar for her chief’s number to express how grateful he is to her.
“It doesn’t surprise me that she took action,” said Chief Information System’s Technician Chris Stewart. “She is very caring and empathic, and at work she is always looking out for her Sailors and making sure they are taken care of
Once Stewart found out all the details he began to work on recognizing Folmar for her heroic actions. On June 8, 2019, the Commanding Officer, Capt. Greg Leland, presented Folmar with a Navy and Marine Corps achievement medal; an award given to a Sailor or Marine who has performed commendably in routine duties or for exceptional achievements.
“Folmar isn’t one to ask for recognition,” expressed Stewart. “I am incredibly proud of her.”
| Date Taken: | 06.08.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 06.11.2019 08:08 |
| Story ID: | 326570 |
| Location: | EARLE, NJ, US |
| Hometown: | SOUTHPORT, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 47 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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