Columbus, Ga. (May 5, 2023)— Piedmont Columbus Regional has named Officer Chance Cleland with the Columbus Police Department the organization’s First Friday Hero for the month of May.

Officer Cleland responded to a medical call at a gas station. He saw an employee lying near the locked front door. She was unresponsive and suffering from an apparent seizure. Officer Cleland used his baton to break the glass on the door to get inside and tend to the woman until EMS arrived. Once inside, the officer placed the woman on her side to prevent her from sustaining any further injuries.

Not everyone knows what to do when someone is having a seizure but that’s not the case for Officer Cleland— he showed up, used good judgement, turned the woman on her side, and stayed until EMS arrived— ultimately saving her life.

A ceremony with Cleland and hospital leadership will be held on May 17 at 8 a.m. in the Community Room at the Public Safety Building to commend him for his response. His story is also featured throughout the hospital on commemorative posters and Piedmont Columbus Regional’s social media pages.

Piedmont Columbus Regional created the First Friday Hero program in mid-2016 to recognize first responders each month who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

“Their line of work is often a thankless job and we want to make the community aware of our local heroes and all they do to make the Chattahoochee Valley a better and safer place,” said Piedmont Columbus Regional CEO Scott Hill.