Hammond lifeguards recognized for saving woman’s life

The city of Hammond sent the lifeguard team of Thomas McDermott Sr. Marina with a celebration of a job well done after one of their teams saved a woman’s life in July.

The family and friends gathered at the Marina on August 12 to celebrate Gabriella Gomez, Georgiana Manojlovic, Juelisa Gomez and Matthew Maciel, all of Hammond; Trevor Bembry, from Scherville; And their coach, Grace Mulcrone, also from Hammond, for their part to save a woman from drowning on July 22. It was the end time at the beach, and Manojlovic and Gabriella Gomez were heading down to tell the two families who leave there when Manojlovic called frantically, said Gabriella Gomez.

“At first, I didn’t know what we were looking at, but I saw a guy out a woman from the water,” she said.

Manojlovic immediately jumped on the phone with 911 while the man, who turned out to be the woman’s son, and Gabriella Gomez first tried to vomit the woman, she said. Once she did it, Gabriella Gomez started the RCR.

Nothing happened at the beginning, said Gabriella Gomez, but without being discouraged, she started a second cycle of compressions while Manojlovic continued to relay the information at 911. After a while, the woman stuck for air.

“I checked her neck and she was breathing,” said Gabriella Gomez. “After three to five minutes, the EMTs showed up and took over, but when your adrenaline takes place, it feels like it took so long.”

Marina’s executive director and former Hammond firefighters, Jeff Smith, knows this feeling. He came out on the scene as a woman, who had left his family all day and may have had an alcoholic drink that made him succumb to heat faster, was taken to a hospital in the region to observe.

“I watched the girls and said to them,” Listen, I know you feel good right now, but when this adrenaline is fading, you will not believe what happened, so if you need me, please call, “said Smith.” I could see him on their faces. “

Indeed, Gabriella came home, and after a little, it hit her suddenly.

“I said to myself:” Mom! ” You will not believe that! Gabriella Gomez said.

Manojlovic said that his training had started as if it was second nature, even if they rarely saw situations near the shore.

“I saw someone who had gone to me, then the other person dragged behind, and I ran. There was no time to sit down and think about what to do, “she said. “The son was so afraid, which was of course understandable, but it was that everything went from 0 to 100 like that, and it was crazy.

“It never happens as you think, but our training is so good, we know how to manage it.”

Mulcrone, who has managed the beach and is with the Marina for eight years, did not work that day but was so proud of her staff.

“At least, I know that what I teach them, they listen to,” said Mulcrone. “It is really rewarding to know that they can manage situations like this.”

Michelle L. Quinn is an independent writer for the post-distribute.