Submitted by: caron harker

10 yrs. ago my husband, Jim, had a massive heart attack, full cardiac arrest at 48 yrs. old. He was away on business in Sydney, CB and the hotel he was in just happened to be close to the emergency responders and everything worked as the Dr. said the paramedics SAVED my husbands life.

We are forever grateful to them for their speedy reactions and knowledge. My husband had a miraculous recovery, the Drs. commented too that only for the paramedics my husband would never have survived. I tracked the two men down in CB and spoke to one of them, I wrote thank you notes to them both and couldn’t express enough how grateful our family was to them!!!!!

They are angels on earth, very helpful angels and too often go unrecognized!!!! A heartfelt thanks to all of our First Responders.

Caron Harker, Jim’s wife

Submitted by: curtis

Ever since I was six I have always wanted to help people, no matter the situation it could be a friend who just needs someone to talk to or someone needs a simple band aid whatever it is. I have always loved the feeling of helping others, so when I turned 18 last month I joined my local volunteer fire department. We’re not a big town, only around 2000 people plus the surrounding county and I haven’t gotten many calls, and any I have had have been small fires. Luckily I have not gone to a vehicle collision with fatalities yet and if I had it my way I would never have to, I’m scared of what I will do when I do see a bad scene how it well affect me… but I know that no matter the scene, I will do my best to help. I have taken as many courses as I can and I hope I’m ready for it.

The point of the this is that even though firefighters, police officers, and doctors get alot of credit and are called heroes which they are, I think there are everyday heroes everywhere in the world. For example as I have said our community is not very big but we are right near a major highway so there is alot of accidents. One day a women lost control of her vehicle rolled it a couple of times and smashed into a power line. The sparks lit the vehicle on fire in the back. This was early in the morning; luckily there was one other peson on the road who came up to the accident. They got out and without even thinking of their own life they ran up to the vehicle took out a knife and cut the seatbelt from the woman. He then dragged the 268 pound women out of the window because the door was jammed and got her away from the vehicle. Only a few seconds after they got out of the vehicle it blew up and the vehicle was engulfed with flames. That situation is just one of many that happen all around the world whether you are in the military, are a police officer or work at starbucks there are everyday heroes everywhere they just may not know it yet….

Submitted by: Kitty Darst

My nephew, Eshu E. Ryan, has been a firefighter in the city of Camden New Jersey and I have proudly worn various sweatshirts and tee shirts from his firehouse. His wife, Tania, is a policewoman. The two of them have two little girls who are so adorable it makes one want to cry looking at their photos! I worry about both of them all the time.

Submitted by: Paige

I have recently joined our towns volunteer fire department. Its been 7 months today and already i feel like i have touched so many peoples lives. The tears, the laughter, and the family ive made is amazing. Words cannot explain how fortunate i feel to be a part of such an amazing team. And heres the thing. You cant be too young or too old. Too unfit or too busy. Look at me, im 16, in school and changing lives, one day at a time.

-Get out there and make a difference. =]

Submitted by: Vikki

This is the story about my fiance, my hero. His name is Shaun and he is a Paramedic and a Volunteer Fire Fighter. One night while sitting down with some friends for a friendly game of poker his fire dept pager alerted him to a medical emergency for a 50 year old male that was in cardiac arrest just around the corner at the local church. He immediately jumped from his chair and raced to the scene which was only seconds away. When he arrived he found the gentlemen lying lifeless on the ground in the church hall. Shaun immediately started CPR while waiting for fellow firefighters and the ambulance to arrive. The CPR had worked and the male started breathing again on his own prior to the ambulance arriving. Shaun accompanied the man in the ambulance to assist the ambulance crew for the trip to the local ER. 1 week later after going to check on his condition in the ICU while on shift, Shaun was able to meet the family of the man who introduced him to the man whos life he saved. They were able to exchange hand shakes and tears as the man said “Thank you for saving my life” They remain friends to this day.

This is the story of my hero.