Langley named Deputy of the Quarter
One of the scariest things a police officer has to do is to perform CPR on a toddler, so you can imagine the pressure Lee County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Langley was under on March 1 when he had to do just that.
It was his actions that helped save the life of a 3-year-old and also helped him earn the honor of Deputy of the Quarter from the North Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce.
Langley, a 10-year veteran of the force, received the honor during the Chamber’s monthly business luncheon in the Dolphin Room at the Shell Factory, in which the details of the incident were described.
He said it was his first life-saving act, yet he was very humble about it.
“It sounds clich, but I was simply doing my job. The child survived and has recovered,” Langley said.
Langley answered a medical call at a residence and was told the child wasn’t breathing. When he arrived he found the 3-year-old, who was breathing, but it was shallow and infrequent.
North District Captain Christopher Reeves said he immediately took control of the scene and administered CPR until Lee County EMS arrived on the scene.
When they did, they provided needed oxygen to him while Langley held his hand and provided support until the child was transported to the hospital.
Reeves said during the trip the child went into cardiac arrest three times. Despite that, the child survived and has made a full recovery.
“I’ve had to do CPR myself, and when it’s a small child, it can be very intimidating, even with our training,” Reeves said.
Also at the luncheon, Teresa Frank, SHARE Club program coordinator at Lee Memorial Health Systems and leading advocate for seniors, was guest speaker.
She spoke of SHARE Club, a 50+ organization which has nearly 7,000 members and holds a bulk of its programs at the rec center, which not only promotes physical wellness for seniors, but mental stimulation.
“Our wellness centers are important as they emphasize health, but keeping seniors engaged, especially those who live alone, is important because otherwise they go into a downward spiral,” Frank said.
Programs include bridge, ceramics, line dancing, as well as frequent social events such as dances and special programs such as wellness seminars, which usually take place during season.
Frank said she would like to hold a health fair at the rec center early next year, perhaps getting the help of local businesses.