Monroe County Commissioners honored on Tuesday, Aug. 18 seven firefighters/EMTs/paramedics, three Sheriff’s deputies and two E-911 dispatchers who assisted in saving the life of a drowning 18-month-old boy on July 26.
Monroe County Commission Chairman Greg Tapley read aloud a resolution recognizing the 12 first responders for their valor in saving the life of the child, Kenneth Garcia. Garcia’s parents, Dominic and Sara Garcia, then handed each first responder a “Kenneth Garcia Lifesaving Ribbon” to commemorate the bravery displayed in a dire situation.
Monroe County Dispatchers Wendy Willis and Crystal Dotson received an emergency call at about 6 p.m. on July 26 that a child, later identified as Kenneth Garcia, was accidentally drowning at the Greystone subdivision clubhouse. Monroe County Emergency Services Engine 2, consisting of firefighter/EMT Jack Adams and part-time firefighter/EMT Darius Patterson, left the High Falls station and responded first to the scene. Shortly after, a second MCES unit, Medic 12, consisting of firefighter/EMT Carson Rowland and firefighter/paramedic Jesse Suggs, left the Johnstonville Road fire station and arrived at the scene, followed shortly by acting battalion chief Cpt. Clay Walton.
First responders found the child outside of the swimming pool, not breathing and unresponsive. However, the child had a pulse, and Adams and Patterson began manual resuscitation. MCES volunteers Casey Jones and Kristal Smith also attended to the child, who was breathing without assistance by the time he was transported by ambulance to Macon’s Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital Navicent Health. Due to heavy traffic as a result of Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) work on I-75, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Chris Sherrell, Larry Sullivan and Justin Watson cleared traffic in order for the ambulance to arrive at the hospital in a timely manner.
The resolution stated: “Whereas all Monroe County Emergency Services first responders: EMT Adams, EMT Patterson, EMT Rowland, Paramedic Suggs, Acting Battalion Chief Walton, Volunteers Jones and Smith conducted themselves in a professional manner in providing quality pre-hospital care. Deputy Sheriff Sherrell, Deputy Sheriff Sullivan, Deputy Sheriff Watson displayed their traffic and driving skills during this emergency, and E-911 Communications Supervisor Wendy Willis and E-911 Communications Officer Crystal Dotson provided outstanding communications in taking, processing and dispatching this emergency call. Now therefore the Monroe County Board of Commissioners along with Sheriff Brad Freeman, Monroe County Emergency Services Director Matt Jackson and E-911 Director Tim Self are thankful for all of our EMTs, paramedics, firefighters, deputy sheriffs, E-911 dispatchers and volunteers and proud of the job they do in keeping our community healthy and safe. July 26 could have been a very tragic day in Monroe County and today because of your training, professionalism and teamwork, Mr. and Mrs. Dominic Garcia are here with their son Kenneth Garcia, to proudly honor you with the Kenneth Garcia Lifesaving Ribbon.”
