Adults at Youth Baseball Game Work as Team to Save Life

Baseball became secondary to saving the life of a player's father during a recent game at Forsyth County's Bennett Park. The umpire, a Parks and Recreation employee and several residents teamed up to keep the parent alive.

When a player's father passed out in the parking lot before the game on May 13, umpire Chase Hammet called 911 and Forsyth County Parks and Recreation employee Thomas Jennings retrieved the Automated External Defibrillator (AED), according to a news release from the county. Local residents Nitza Hubbard, Kim DeLeon and Rhonda Staton administered CPR. With the help of CPR and the AED, the parent began breathing by the time public safety personnel arrived on scene.

This team celebrated its lifesaving win as the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners recognized them at their June 20 meeting.

"The Board of Commissioners of Forsyth County does hereby recognize and commend Chase Hammet, Thomas Jennings, Nitza Hubbard, Kim DeLeon and Rhonda Staton for their heroic actions," said District 4 Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills.

Recognizing the importance of AEDs, Forsyth County Parks and Recreation installed them at all active Forsyth County parks in 2003.

Gardner said the Parks and Recreation Department knows of three previous times when the park AEDs were used in lifesaving situations.