The motto of the Walthourville Fire Department is “What good shall we do today?”
On January 28, the good that Deputy Chief of Service Chance Chandler did was to save someone’s life. Chandler was recognized for his good work, receiving the department’s Lifesaving Medal at the April 9 city council meeting.
Fire Chief Nicolas Maxwell recounted the call to assist a woman who was choking.
“An engine company from the WFD, led by Deputy Chief of Service Chance Tyler Chandler, arrived at the location roughly 4 minutes after the initial dispatch,” he said.
WFD raced up unpaved Thompson Road to find a woman and her two children standing outside their home. The woman was grabbing her throat, unable to speak, “showing clear signs of distress and reaching out towards fire personnel in desperation for assistance.”
Chandler wasted no time, standing behind the woman, placing one fist below the woman’s sternum, wrapping his other hand over his fist, and squeezing her tightly. Nothing happened. He did it again. Still nothing.
But the third time, a piece of food flew out of the woman’s mouth. She “drew a deep inhale and became outwardly emotional as she attempted to express her gratitude for what she describes as ‘Chance saved my life. I was about to die.’”
Chandler’s wife, Bri, pinned the medal on his dress shirt as daughter Calia and his mother, Doris, who had driven all the way from Alabama to surprise him, watched. Chandler also was awarded the chief’s Commendation Coin.
That wasn’t the only heroism honored at the meeting: Mayor Sarah B. Hayes recognized another city employee “for going above and beyond.”
Elizabeth White, a truck driver, was caught by surprise and teared up when Councilman Mitchell Boston presented her with a bouquet of flowers.
Hayes read from an e-mail the woman, Wanda Willis, had sent commending White’s “exceptional employee conduct.”
White had been collecting debris on St. John’s Road in Allenhurst when the woman’s 7-month-old, 70-pound Labrador retriever took off running. The woman fell so hard, “it stunned me and knocked the breath out of me.”
When White saw this, she ran to help the woman. “My puppy began to jump on her because he thinks everyone wants to pet him, She didn’t swat him away but calmly told me that she’s afraid of dogs, which in my opinion shows great character and the ability to serve well under pressure….I wanted to let you know that you have an exceptional and caring young lady in your employment. Please pass our gratitude to her.”
Willis, Hayes said, is the wife of Allenhurst Mayor James Willis.
The city then presented White with a certificate of appreciation “for exceptional customer service.” Asked to say a few words, White said she was shy, but added, “Thank you, everybody. I love what I do.”
Hayes said the city is proud of all its employees, “but when something happens like this, and an employee stands out for helping a citizen, we want to make sure that we recognize them.”
The Tide brings regular notes and observations on news and events by The Current staff.
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