Name of Hero: Bud White

Hero City: Long Reach

Submitted by: Darren White

My Dad, Bud White has been an Everyday Hero to the community where he lives for the past 56 years. As Chief of the local fire department, he’s responded to thousands of calls for help, from the minor (cat up a tree…. really!) to the unspeakably sad.

Today, at age 72, he is still an active member of the department and is in better physical shape than some of the members half his age. I now have the privilege of working with him on fire scenes including a structure fire that we were both working on last week.

His leadership and dedication have made the department what it is today.

Submitted by: Katie White

This isn’t my story, but I wanted to take a minute to pay tribute to the hundreds of urban search and rescue staff from a variety of countries that have been working non-stop in Christchurch New Zealand. These people have worked tirelessly for long hours in a desperate bid to find survivors buried in the rubble of a broken city and have seen sights that I suspect some of them will never get out of their minds.

Christchurch has so many stories of heroes coming out of the past 11 days. Some of the most admirable are the “everyday” people who, immediately after their world literally fell apart, jumped into incredibly dangerous situations in an attempt to save others. But there are also other heroes – the person who coordinated a baking effort to be sure that the rescue teams and welfare centres were well stocked with food; the communities that have pulled together to literally dig themselves out when the ground around them turned to liquid; the bands of volunteers that just show up with shovels to help anyone who needs it; the people who have taken strangers into their homes when they were left homeless last week.

Crises bring out the best and the worst of people. I would say, despite all the loss of life, and the destruction of a beautiful city, I think we’re just beginning to see the good things that will come out Christchurch. My thoughts go out to all the people of Christchurch, Cantebury, and across New Zealand and I hope that the men and women who’ve worked so hard to find survivors, and recover the bodies of victims of the earthquake can feel the support that is being sent to them by people all over the world.

Submitted by: Lynda Lackey

My husband Chris has been a paramedic for 10years. Since the first day he started working in his field, his passion for helping people and wanting to make a difference in people’s lives has been obvious. I could tell you a hero story of how he saved a life or stepped in to help someone in need but the thing is, he wouldn’t want me to. Chris is a humble man; one who doesn’t need recognition for what he does to know that he is making a different in people’s lives. It takes a special person to be able to walk into a scene of an accident and see some things that most people shouldn’t have to see in their lifetime, to get someone’s heart beating again after it has stopped, to help an elderly person how has fallen out of bed or simply listen to someone with mental illness who is feeling lost and confused. It takes a special person to be able to do all this and still come home to his family and live life as if what he did is “just in a days’ work”. His passion for his field has now developed into a second career as a part time teacher at the local college where is now guiding students to do what he is so passionate about. Although he saves lives, and at times puts his own life at risk, he does not consider himself a hero. He’s simply a father and husband with a really cool job.

Submitted by: Chantal Mailloux

I was in a very scary situation on Feb 27/2011 which I had to call the ambulance cause my husband fell in the bathroom. I have nothing but good things to say about these men who helped my husband. They were very caring and supportive. I cannot thank them enough for their prompt attention to my husband.

Submitted by: Brenda Dutchak 

On Dec. 10th we were having a busy day in the AMBULANCE COMMUNICATIONS CENTER, when we received a call for a 72 year old male on the street that was unconscious, not breathing. The caller did not know this man but called for help, as the Emergency Medical Dispatcher went through her interrogation, she quickly realized that this man was in fact not breathing, the caller stated he did not know how to do CPR, the Emergency Medical Dispatcher was not worried she knew she would be able to talk the caller through all the correct steps.

Her dispatcher sent out the AMBULANCE, as the EMD talked the caller through CPR, once the Paramedic’s arrived they took over doing CPR and did in fact bring this man back to life. We are proud to say that this gentleman is still alive today, why because of the stranger doing the right thing and calling for help, the Emergency Medical Dispatcher talking the caller through CPR, the Paramedic’s that arrived on scene within minutes and taking over CPR and rushing the patient to the hospital.

The hero’s in this story are the Stranger, the Emergency Medical Dispatcher, and of course the Ambulance Paramedic’s.

We so often forget about the Ambulance Paramedic’s and the Emergency Medical Dispatchers that are also real HERO’S.

Yes the fire fighters and police do a great job, but people forget (like your song Dave) there are also the Ambulance Personnel out in the Emergency Services world as well and no one gives them or makes a song about them. Very, very sad.

Thanks for reading about some real hero’s.