North Charleston officer receives award for lifesaving response in March

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) — A North Charleston officer received recognition on Tuesday for saving a woman’s life.

Ptl. Christopher Smith was presented with the “Lifesaving Award” from the police department for March 2024, North Charleston Police announced.

On March 29, Ptl. Smith conducted a welfare check on a home in Watson Hill after receiving a disconnected 911 call. When Officer Smith arrived, he searched the area around the home after not being able to make contact with anyone.

He found a woman lying face down, bleeding and unresponsive in the garage, NCPD said. Immediately, Smith began lifesaving measures. The agency said the woman responded to sternum rubs, which kept her conscious long enough for Dorchester County EMS to arrive and take over.

Later, Smith determined the woman had overdosed on Xanax, and the woman was taken to a local hospital for further treatment, North Charleston PD explained.

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