Piedmont Columbus Regional has named Captain Robert Etheredge with Meriwether County Fire/Rescue the organization’s First Friday Hero for the month of October.

Etheredge and his crew transported a two-month-old girl who was only responsive to pain to the Piedmont Columbus Regional Pediatric Emergency Department. He went a step further after leaving the hospital by following up with the police department on scene to make sure hospital staff had all the necessary information needed to properly treat the child.

After speaking with responding officers, Etheredge called emergency department staff to make them aware of concerns for possible child abuse. With this new information, a CT scan was performed and a previously undetected injury was discovered. Thanks to Etheredge going the extra mile to follow up on this case, the child was able to be transferred safely to another hospital to receive a higher level of care.

A ceremony with Etheredge and hospital leadership will be held at a later date 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.