NCO performs CPR, saves toddler

  • Published
  • By Verla Davis
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England (USAFENS) --  Most people don’t remember what they were doing on Jan. 23, but for the Clemsic family it is one they’ll never forget. It was on this day that 23-month old Jason “Baby Jay” Clemsic, the son of Tech. Sgts. Carmen and Jason Clemsic, 48th Fighter Wing and 48th Security Forces Squadron respectively, nearly drowned in an icy pond behind the family’s off-base home.

Carmen took a deep breath as she recounted the events of that day.

“I was showing Brian and Melissa Hammond our house (both staff sergeants, 48th Communications Squadron and 48th FW respectively). As we walked downstairs, I noticed the back door open [which is usually locked]. I thought, ‘oh no.’ When I looked out, I saw my daughter walking up the sidewalk. She had no shoes on. I asked her what was she doing and went to pick her up. That’s when I saw him in the pond,” she said.

Carmen jumped in the pond and grabbed her son. Because the pond was full of slippery leaves and other debris it was difficult for her to quickly get him out.

Hearing her screams, the Hammonds came running out of the house. Brian reached in and took hold of the child by the shirt and began Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation while his wife called the paramedics.

“I laid him on the side of the water and started checking him. He wasn’t breathing in the beginning … at all,” Brian said. “I couldn’t tell if he had a heartbeat because the water was so cold. With grabbing him out and being outside in the cold, I didn’t have a jacket or anything on. I’d started shivering. So I don’t know if he had a pulse or not.”

Brian began giving Baby Jay his first two breaths and continued until the toddler began to respond by coughing and expelling the bacteria-infested water he had swallowed. Then Brian picked the boy up and took him in the house and began treating him for shock.

“He had already started taking breaths in. They were a little shallow, but he was breathing on his own,” he said.

By this time the paramedics were on the way and were fully aware of the situation.

When Carmen arrived at the West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St. Edmunds, her son had a collapsed lung and had to be put on a ventilator. He had been admitted to the emergency room the day before with the croup and already had problems breathing. He was transferred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge were she was told that his condition would get worse before it got better due to the amount of bacteria he swallowed. He was placed in a medically induced coma for a week to make sure his throat didn’t swell closed when the tubes were removed.

While holding on to some shred of hope, Carmen said she received tons of support from her Air Force family. She got choked up as she talked about the support of base men and women.

“I just can’t say enough. Sometimes people make light of phrases like the military family and things, but they really work,” she said. “You get these people who came out and (did whatever they could) to help us. I really get choked up when I think about it. God, it meant so much.”

Carmen said she is grateful for the self-aid and buddy care system and all the training that she has received to prepare her for times like these.

“As much as I knew what I needed to do, it was so nice that Brian was there. I was able to be the hysterical mom,” she said.

Baby Jay was out of the hospital within two weeks. He has made a full recovery. According to his mom, he is back to fighting with his 3-year-old sister, Kamryn and pulling her hair. Thanks to Brian, he turned 2 years old on March 6.

For his efforts, Staff Sgt. Brian Hammond received a coin from Chief Master Sgt. Karl Sagstetter, the 48th FW command chief, and from Maj. John Sutherland, 48th CS commander. He said he doesn’t think of himself as a hero.

The Clemsic family sees it differently.

“He’s my angel,” said Carmen.