Cabarrus team member uses CPR to help save infant
Published on January 17, 2024
The opportunity to help save someone’s life can happen at any moment.
That’s why Cabarrus County takes pride in making sure its employees are equipped with the proper tools and certifications needed for a host of situations.
Anna Green, an investigations social worker with the Department of Social Services (DSS), recently used her County-mandated CPR training to help save an infant while at work.
Green’s actions earned her recognition at the Cabarrus Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting on January 16. Green’s supervisor Joshua Hoke and Program Administrator Justice Johnson joined Deputy County Manager Aalece Pugh during the recognition, which drew a standing ovation from the board and audience.
Board Chair Steve Morris noted that Countywide CPR training was one of the first events held at the new Emergency Medical Services (EMS) headquarters.
“We appreciate that collaboration and cooperation between departments,” Morris said. “It makes life better for everyone in Cabarrus County.”
The incident happened in December while Green was conducting a home visit. She was downstairs talking to a child when the mother, who was upstairs with an infant, began to panic over the baby monitor.
“I didn’t know much about the baby,” Green said. “All I knew was she had RSV and had been sick for a while.”
The mother rushed downstairs with the infant, and Green took action.
“She was having a seizure,” Green said. “Her eyes were rolling to the back of her head and she was biting her tongue. At one point we realized she stopped breathing, so I started doing chest compressions.”
While Green was performing CPR, the mother called 911 and they followed the operator’s instructions. The baby started breathing again just moments before EMS arrived at the scene, Green said.
“I was so relieved when she started crying and kicking her legs,” Green said. “I was very scared for that family, but I’m glad I was there and could help out in that moment.”
The infant was rushed to the hospital for observation and was later able to return home. She’s doing well, according to Green.
Prior to working for Cabarrus, Green was CPR certified as a day care worker. Last month, she participated in the County’s mandatory CPR training with EMS just days before the incident.
“The class helped refresh me on the techniques and steps I used in that moment,” Green said. “I’m very thankful that I had that training recently.”
Cabarrus County requires all employees to participate in CPR training every other year. The classes are taught by members of the County’s EMS department.
“Proper recognition and treatment of medical emergencies by bystanders is something EMS relies heavily on,” said EMS Deputy Chief Kara Clarke. “We take pride in training County staff in CPR so when situations arise, people are equipped and ready to provide care to our citizens and visitors until EMS arrives.”
EMS provides regular CPR training in the community, and the department is hosting a public CPR event January 22 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at EMS headquarters in Concord (793 Cabarrus Avenue West). To register visit facebook.com/cabarruscountyems and click the “events” tab.