Photo By Alexandra Shea | U.S. Army Training Center and Fort Jackson Commander Brig. Gen. Milford “Beags”...... read more read more
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“I was on temporary duty in Tennessee when my husband called and told me what happened. I was devastated when I heard about it,” said Elizabeth Rodriguez. “I am so thankful they take their training so seriously.”
Rodriguez is mother to 15-month-old Eliana, who attends child care at one of Fort Jackson’s Child Development Centers. November 7 was a typical day for Eliana while attending childcare when she suddenly turned blue and lost consciousness. Eliana had begun choking on a piece of strawberry served during snack time.
“We were just sitting down for snack and she began to cough,” said Kristy France-Baldwin, program assistant for Hood Street Child Development Center. “I realized she was choking. Protocol states we start back blows. It didn’t work and she turned limp and stopped breathing.”
The back blows France-Baldwin began had little effect to dislodge the food stuck in Eliana’s airway. France-Baldwin said she became emotional out of fear and began crying. That was when Gwendolyn Jefferson, assistant director at Parent Central Services, stepped in to assist.
“Thank God she was there,” France-Baldwin said. “She kept saying, ‘You can do this.’”
Jefferson happened to be at the CDC to pick up her granddaughter when she heard the commotion coming from another room. She stepped down the hall and saw the event unfolding and offered words of encouragement to her co-worker.
“Sometimes when you’re nervous you don’t forget (you’re training), you just need a little help,” said Jefferson. She delivered that help. “She knew what she needed to do, she just needed that little extra (encouragement).”
As Jefferson repeated the words “You can do this,” France-Baldwin laid Eliana on her side and used the finger-sweep step of CPR to help clear the bite of strawberry from her airway despite her emotions.
“All I could think was breath baby, breath,” France-Baldwin said.
“Suddenly she woke up as if nothing had happened. I was so excited.”
France-Baldwin said after Eliana gained full consciousness she left the room in the care of another teacher for a moment. She felt sick, a common reaction in the aftermath of engaging the human “fight-or-flight” reaction according to the Psychologist World website.
Once composed, she returned to the room and sat with Eliana until her father came to the center to pick up his daughter. He took Eliana to the Emergency Department where she was later discharged with a clean bill of health.
“I think if no one would have acted, she would have died,” said Sonny Bolton, director of Child Parent Services. “They worked together and saved a life.”
All CDC personnel are required to complete CPR and first aid training before they begin working within the CDC. Each employee also completes refresher training annually to ensure their skills remain sharp in an event such as Eliana’s.
Bolton explained she, along with fellow CDC staff, watched the closed-circuit television surveillance footage of the event to see how France-Baldwin and Jefferson handled the situation. The footage was used as real-time example of what could occur during a normal day on the job and reinforce the importance of the basic first responder training they receive.
U.S. Army Training Center and Fort Jackson Commanding General Brig. Gen. Milford “Beags” Beagle Jr. presented France-Baldwin and Jefferson with Civilian Service Commendation Medals during the quarterly award ceremony Nov. 21 at the NCO Club.
“There is no better way to appreciate and say thank you than to pause and recognize those that exceed the standard,” Beagle said. “I am thankful for all of you. Without you there is no us.”
After France-Baldwin and Jefferson accepted their awards, they moved to the back of the ballroom where they were greeted by Eliana and her mother. Hugs and photos were shared between the women as Eliana smiled and wiggled with excitement of the event in her mother’s arms.
“I’m so thankful to everyone’s quick thinking,” Rodriguez said. “I can’t thank them enough.”
Rodriguez continues to leave Eliana in the care of the Hood Street CDC staff knowing her daughter will remain safe despite any events that may occur in an otherwise typical day.
As for France-Baldwin and Jefferson, they both said they will look at their annual training in a different light for now on and will encourage others to take their training to heart by sharing their experience.
| Date Taken: | 11.28.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 12.02.2019 11:07 |
| Story ID: | 353992 |
| Location: | FORT JACKSON, SC, US |
| Web Views: | 29 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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