Caitlyn Rainwater is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with Falck Orange County whose extraordinary compassion, vigilance, and lifesaving actions demonstrate that the commitment to care for others does not end when an EMS professional’s shift is over.

For five years, Caitlyn has served with Falck Orange County and is currently based at the Laguna Niguel Station. She lives in San Clemente with her husband, who serves in the United States Marine Corps, and their four children. As a military family, they navigate the challenges of deployments while making the most of their time together, including frequent family trips to Disneyland.

Caitlyn’s EMS training and instinct to protect others proved lifesaving while she was off duty at a birthday pool party for a friend’s child. With many children gathered around the pool, Caitlyn remained particularly attentive to a two-year-old who could not swim and was not wearing a flotation device. After briefly losing sight of the toddler, Caitlyn turned and immediately spotted the child floating unresponsive in the water.

Once the child was removed from the pool, Caitlyn quickly assessed the situation and activated 911. Recognizing that the child was not breathing, had no pulse, and was turning blue, she immediately began CPR. Drawing upon her training, Caitlyn remained focused and determined, successfully resuscitating the child within a short period of time.

Caitlyn continued caring for the toddler until the responding EMS crew arrived and assumed care. Most importantly, the child made a full recovery and was later discharged from the hospital in good health.

Despite the extraordinary outcome, Caitlyn has remained modest about her actions. As a mother of four and a dedicated EMT, she simply recognized that a child needed help and responded without hesitation. Her vigilance, compassion, clinical readiness, and willingness to act when seconds mattered made a profound difference for a child and family.

Caitlyn’s actions exemplify the instincts and values at the heart of emergency medical services: paying attention, being prepared, and stepping forward when another person needs help. Falck Orange County is proud to recognize Caitlyn Rainwater as a Star of Life.