Two Beaufort, S.C. firefighters, flagged down by a distraught father, assisted in reviving a 9-day-old infant Sunday.
Firefighters Sammy Negron and John "J.T." Thompson, both Emergency Medical Technicians, were driving in their squad truck on Ribaut Road at about 3:30 p.m. when Thompson noticed a vehicle pull alongside, and the driver waving frantically for them to stop.
The firefighters pulled to the median and Firefighter Thompson went to investgate, and quickly discovered a mother holding her lifeless infant son. With a mother's confidence and trust, she handed the veteran firefighter her child.
Firefighters Negron and Thompson, who have children of their own, refused to except what may have seemed to obvious to others, and both firefighters went into action.
Thompson began basic life support procedures as Negron jumped into the drivers seat of the squad, faced with a difficult decision. "My first thought was to call for an EMS unit," said Negron, who also works part time as a technician at the Beaufort Memorial Hospital's emergency room and is a CPR instructor.
"But I knew this baby needed definitive care and needed to get to the emergency room right away." Negron turned on the lights and sirens, and firefighters sped off to the hospital with Thompson performing CPR in the front seat. They radioed ahead to advise the emergency room of the situation and that they were on their way.
Firefighters arrived at the hospital and turned the infant over to the waiting staff. But before they left, they heard a sound which will stay with them forever, the child briefly let out a cry.
The child was flown out to South Carolina's MUSC in Charleston, where he was admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and as of today, was "doing really well" according to Beaufort Fire Department spokesman, Firefighter Daniel Byrne.
"This year, I am going to have a great Christmas," stated Firefighter Negron. Both Thompson and Negron were just getting off duty last Christmas morning when they were dispatched to a man in cardiac arrest. Firefighters and EMS personnel worked feverishly to save the middle aged man, however he was later pronounced dead at the hospital. The memories of his children looking on as the emergency crews worked to unsuccessfully to save their father, still haunts both firefighters.
"Yeah," agreed Thompson as he joked with his son, "but this year is going to be better."
