HAMLET—On Tuesday night, first responders were recognized for saving the life of a child at the end of last month.
At the city council meeting, awards were given to members of Hamlet Fire and Rescue, the Hamlet Police Department, and the Richmond County Emergency Communications Center for their work in helping a 2-year-old who had been shot.
A mother called the 911 center just after noon on August 30 to say that her son had been shot and was on the way to the hospital.
But Cassidy Patterson and Supervisor Garrett McInnis changed the mother’s path to take her to the Hamlet Police Department, which was closer. They then told first responders what to expect.
HPD Capt. Matthew Norris was said to be the first person to arrive at the scene of the accident and start putting pressure on the child’s cut to stop the bleeding.
After a short time, Carlton Gainey, Justin Pruitt, Richard Lassiter, Gary Chavis, Edward Causey, and Dalton Cranford from Hamlet Fire and Rescue ran over to look at the injury and start care.
After that, the child was taken to the hospital and then rushed to a trauma center.
A press statement said that a follow-up investigation found that everyone’s actions “not only saved the child’s leg but also his young life,” according to the doctor at the trauma center.
“These incredible first responders are real heroes who should be praised for their quick and strong actions,” the release says.
The release went on to say, “Our community is honored and proud to have these dedicated, caring, and well-trained individuals who are here to save lives and protect the innocent when others do horrible things.” “Their hard work and accomplishments show how great our staff is and how lucky our community is to have these heroes protecting us all.”
Bob Smith, who is in charge of emergency services, also praised his team and the first responders.
“I am so proud of how hard Cassidy and Garrett work and how much they love their jobs, as well as all of our staff who wear that headset every day,” Smith told the RO in a statement on Wednesday.
“Working in 9-1-1 is very rewarding because you never know when you might be in Cassidy and Garrett’s situation and have to make a split-second choice that saves a life.”
Along with our staff, Smith added, “I am also proud of the fact that we have such dedicated Fire, Rescue, EMS, and Law Enforcement staff and volunteers who put their lives on the line every day to help others.”
“We are so lucky in Richmond County to have public safety officials who care so much about us.” All of them are truly exceptional, and this event is a great example of how different groups with different duties can work together to make a difference.