Call it fate, or call it divine intervention. Whatever you choose to call it, the circumstances of a pretty normal day in early July put two Columbia Gas technicians in the right place at the right time. Steve Manypenny and Matt Overcasher were working on a routine job order and finishing up for the day, which had gone slightly beyond their scheduled stop time.
Matt was in his vehicle finishing up some paperwork when he heard Steve calling him from behind the truck. Matt knew immediately by the tone of Steve’s voice, who is usually quite calm, that something was wrong. He thought Steve had been injured or something even more serious was occurring.
Matt’s instincts were correct. Steve had been flagged down by a mother holding her limp child’s body in her arms. Steve immediately activated his Blackline device and called 911. Matt also jumped into action and approached the inconsolable mother to see what was wrong.
The 18-month-old child was in severe distress. Matt checked the child’s airway and began working on the child while Steve was working with emergency responders through 9-1-1. The mother stated that she thought the child was having a seizure, but he did not have a history of seizures.
Matt and Steve worked to keep the family calm throughout the ordeal. Matt was able to detect a faint heartbeat and extremely shallow breathing. As the child’s eyes rolled back, Matt and Steve kept talking to the child to try and keep the young boy alert. Matt knew that since the child’s airway was clear and the fact that he was breathing, albeit poorly, chest compressions would do more harm than good. Matt flipped the child and patted him on the back to help him breathe. It was then that he heard noises indicative of chest congestion.
The police were first on the scene and had Matt keep working on the child until paramedics arrived. Once the paramedics arrived, they rushed the child to the hospital, where he was given further treatment. Doctors believe the child had rapidly spiked a fever which caused a seizure. Thankfully, because of the quick actions of Matt and Steve, the child is doing great and is back home, expected to make a complete recovery.
Throughout the ordeal, Matt and Steve have remained humble. Matt said, “Every life is precious, and we did nothing that anyone else would have done to ensure people are safe. I’m just glad the child is happy and healthy.” Matt credits his Marine Corps medical training and Columbia Gas training for teaching him how to remain calm and render aid under difficult circumstances.
The parents of the young child have let Matt and Steve know that they are beyond thankful they were there and so willing to help when their family needed them. The parents said it would have been an entirely different story had the two not been in the right place at the right time.
