Deputies, EMS personnel receive awards

ELIZABETHTOWN — Employees with the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office and Bladen County EMS received recognition before the start of the Bladen County Emergency Advisory Council meeting on Wednesday.

The recognition took place at the Bladen County EMS building, located at 292 Ben Green Industrial Drive, Elizabethtown.

Recognized were Sgt. Richard Bailey and Deputy Spencer Bryant, Dispatcher Christy Jordan along with EMS personnel Heather Warwick, William Sykes and Erin Sasser.

Bailey, Bryant and Jordan were involved in a call that took place on June 8 at 4 a.m., according to an account read by Capt. Stephen Hester of Bladen County EMS.

He recounted the Bladen County Call Center got a call that “is one of the worst calls you can get” — one that involved a 6-month-old child who was in respiratory arrest. He said Dispatcher Christy Jordan took the call.

Hester added that Jordan kept the caller calm and gave her instructions on what to do. Hester said Jordan also dispatched two deputies along with EMS to the location.

Hester said one of the things that made this call different is the fact that the child is a special-needs child.

“This night, these two stepped up,” said Hester of the deputies.

Hester told the group the deputies entered the home, performed two rounds of CPR and “bagged” the patient, meaning they used a manual resuscitator to help the child breathe. Before long, the miracle they hoped for was realized.

“When EMS arrived, the patient was breathing and had a pulse,” said Hester.

He added that law enforcement officers and EMS personnel train all the time for that one moment.

“You get the opportunity and it all comes together,” said Hester.

Bailey, Bryant and Jordan also received recognition from the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office for their quick actions.

In another incident, an EMS crew responded to a call on June 17 involving a 12-year-old child who was choking — then went into cardiac and respiratory arrest. He told the group that, after the response by EMS and treatment, the child is now back at home.

He said the EMS crew involved in that call was Erin Sasser, William Sykes and Heather Warwick.

—Erin Smith can be reached at 910-862-4163.

Erin Smith|Bladen Journal Dr. Kenneth Carter along with Bladen County EMS Director David Howell recognize Bladen County Sheriff’s Office Dispatcher Christy Jordan for keeping a caller calm, giving her instructions on what to do, and dispatching help when the caller reported her six month old child was in respiratory arrest.

https://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_EMs-Award1.jpgErin Smith|Bladen Journal Dr. Kenneth Carter along with Bladen County EMS Director David Howell recognize Bladen County Sheriff’s Office Dispatcher Christy Jordan for keeping a caller calm, giving her instructions on what to do, and dispatching help when the caller reported her six month old child was in respiratory arrest.

Erin Smith|Bladen Journal Dr. Kenneth Carter, EMS Director David Howell, Emergency Management Director Bradley Kinlaw, look on after recognizing Bladen County Sheriff’s Deputies Richard Bailey and Spencer Bryant for their actions on a call involving a six month old child. The child was revived and survived.

https://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_EMs-Award21.jpgErin Smith|Bladen Journal Dr. Kenneth Carter, EMS Director David Howell, Emergency Management Director Bradley Kinlaw, look on after recognizing Bladen County Sheriff’s Deputies Richard Bailey and Spencer Bryant for their actions on a call involving a six month old child. The child was revived and survived.

Erin Smith|Bladen Journal Bladen County Sheriff’s Deputies Richard Bailey, Dispatcher Christy Jordan and Deputy Spencer Bryant look on as Capt. Jeff Bridgers reads a certificate of recognition to them for their actions on a call involving a six month old child. They were recognized for their actions in reviving the child.

https://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_EMsAward31.jpgErin Smith|Bladen Journal Bladen County Sheriff’s Deputies Richard Bailey, Dispatcher Christy Jordan and Deputy Spencer Bryant look on as Capt. Jeff Bridgers reads a certificate of recognition to them for their actions on a call involving a six month old child. They were recognized for their actions in reviving the child.

Erin Smith|Bladen Journal Bladen County EMS Director David Howell congratulates Heather Warwick and Erin Sasser for their actions on a call involving a 12 year old child. Not pictured but also receiving recognition for his actions was William Sykes.

https://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_EMsAward41.jpgErin Smith|Bladen Journal Bladen County EMS Director David Howell congratulates Heather Warwick and Erin Sasser for their actions on a call involving a 12 year old child. Not pictured but also receiving recognition for his actions was William Sykes.