Hamilton Emergency Medical Services  (HEMS) recently presented the Clinical First Award to Hannah Dempsey, an advanced Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) student at Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC).

 

Dempsey was on a school clinical rotation with HEMS during a local event along several other students and Claudio Leyssens, their lead instructor. After being assigned to her coverage area, while unaccompanied by her preceptor and instructor, Dempsey was approached by someone who was carrying a choking child. She quickly assessed the child and realized that the child was unable to cry, speak or cough.

 

She took the child in her arms, face down, and began back blows, as she had been trained. After four to five blows, a piece of hard candy ejected out of the child’s mouth and shot across the floor. Immediately, the child began to breathe and speak.

 

“Hannah was in the middle of a large crowd of spectators, and in the face of a very stressful situation, she never hesitated or flinched,” said Randy Goodwin, HEMS lieutenant and preceptor. “She immediately took action and was able to do just as she had been trained. The outcome was perfect!”

 

Dempsey is now a graduate of GNTC and works as a dispatcher with HEMS.

 

The HEMS Clinical First Award is presented to students for performing lifesaving actions.