EMS for Children Honors Matt Smith, EMT, for Saving an Infant’s Life
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Posted: Thursday, May 21, 2015 2:37 PM
EMS for Children Honors Matt Smith, EMT, for Saving an Infant's Life
The West Virginia Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for Children Program recognized Matt Smith, an EMT with Marion County Rescue Squad, Inc., at its annual EMS for Children Advisory Committee meeting.
During a local festival, the standby ambulance crew was transporting a patient who had fallen from the fairgrounds when another 9-1-1 call was received. The caller stated her four month old baby was choking. Another EMS crew was dispatched, but was responding from nearly 20 minutes away. As the 9-1-1 dispatcher obtained additional information, the mother stated the baby was turning blue. Matt Smith was off duty but present at the festival and had his EMS radio with him. He managed to locate the caller and began performing back thrusts on the apneic baby. Within three to four back thrusts, the baby spit out the object, gasped for air and began breathing on her own.
"On behalf of the West Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services, EMS for Children, we would like to recognize Matt Smith for the dedication and countless hours spent in achieving and maintaining his emergency medical services skills, education, and compassion which resulted in saving the life of a child," said Melissa Kinnaird, Interim Director of the Office of EMS.