Lee County, Ala. (December 1, 2023)— Piedmont Columbus Regional has named Deputy Jacob Cook with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office the organization’s First Friday Hero for the month of December.

Deputy Cook responded to a call about an unresponsive baby. As seen on body-cam footage, he cleared the little girl’s airway and began stimulating the baby while reassuring the mother everything was going to be okay. EMS arrived and transported the toddler to Piedmont Columbus Regional’s Pediatric Emergency Department for further care. The toddler has since been released from the hospital and is back at home with her parents.

Additionally, we’d like to thank Smiths Station Fire and Rescue for working together with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office to keep the citizens of Lee County safe.

A ceremony with Deputy Cook and hospital leadership will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. CT at the Lee County Sheriff’s Office 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.