The Habersham County Board of Commissioners honored at Tuesday's meeting three people for heroic actions at the senior center.
Habersham County Public Information Officer Rob Moore said the county employs two of the three people who responded to recent emergencies at the senior center.
“Our No. 1 goal at the Senior Center is to come in every day and be the best we can be to care for our senior citizens,” Habersham County Senior Center Director Kathy Holcomb said. “In the period from one Friday to the next, we had three occurrences of incidents. One client sat in a chair that broke. One client’s oxygen level dropped very low; And then one had food caught in her throat and needed the Heimlich maneuver.”
Senior Center employees Laureen Pemberton and Sonya Turgeon handled the first two incidents and ensured the person was safe.
“Sonya walked up on the client who was choking and immediately took control of the incident and started Heimlich,” Holcomb said. “Sonya was shorter to reach around the client so a care provider, Joshua Haynie, was there with another client and stepped in and finished the maneuver. Sonya moved to the front to observe the food was out.”
A Habersham County Emergency Services ambulance responded to each incident. The person with low oxygen was transported to a local hospital.
“The county leadership believes in our people and lifts them up in praise for a job well done,” Holcomb said. “We know receiving praise was never your intention. However, we want you to know how appreciated you are in this community.”
Haynie, Turgeon and Pemberton received a standing ovation at the commission meeting.
