Olivia Gipson doesn’t spend her workdays performing CPR. As a Clinic Support Representative in Practice Management at Covington County Hospital, basic life support skills aren’t something she uses on the job. But as a grandmother of three, she knew those skills could one day matter in a very personal way.
“It was really for my grandkids,” Gipson said.
It had been several years since she last took a Basic Life Support (BLS) class, so when Covington County Hospital offered one on November 20, she decided it was time for a refresher. Less than a month later, she would be grateful she did.
On December 13, Gipson was shopping with her daughter, Miracle. Miracle was loading bags into the car and getting ready to buckle the children into their car seats when another child suddenly spoke up—20-month-old Major was choking.
Without hesitation, Gipson sprang into action.
She pulled Major from the back seat, turned him over on her arm, and began administering back blows—just as she had been taught in her recent BLS class. The moments felt long and tense, but then came the sound every grandmother hopes to hear.
Major began to cry.
“I knew when he started crying that air was getting into his lungs and that he was going to be okay,” Gipson said. “That refresher course came at just the right time.”
To be safe, the family still drove Major to the emergency department, where he was checked out and confirmed to be perfectly fine. Gipson believes the training helped her stay calm and focused when it mattered most.
“Had I not taken that class, I don’t think I would have been as composed,” she said. “That refresher made all the difference.”
Amy Yates, CCH Paramedic and Education Coordinator, says Gipson’s experience is a powerful reminder of why BLS training matters for everyone—not just those providing hands-on patient care.
“Less than three weeks after taking the class, she used those skills to help save her grandchild,” Yates said. “You never know when you’ll need it.”
Covington County Hospital offers CPR classes at no cost to all CCH staff, churches, and community-based organizations. If you are required to have BLS certification, those classes can also be arranged for a fee.
For more information and class schedules, contact Amy Yates at 601-765-6973 or email ayates@covingtoncountyhospital.com
