At a recent Soddy-Daisy Commission meeting, Mayor Jim Adams made the special presentation of Lifesaver Award to the members of Hamilton County Emergency Services and the Soddy-Daisy Fire and Police departments who saved the life of a past employee of the city.
Jerry Smith, who was a fireman for 42 years and chief of the Soddy-Daisy department for four years, suffered cardiac arrest in late July. His wife started CPR. Police were already next door to the store where the incident happened, and firemen were in cars close by, so they all got to him quickly. Soddy-Daisy was also in contact with Hamilton County Emergency Services responders who rapidly arrived on the scene and helped save his life. Responders get credit for saving a life, but it all starts with the 911 dispatchers who must get and relay good information.
Jerry had performed CPR 33 times and it was one of those things he had never considered he might need himself.