RANDOLPH – A 6-year-old girl was recognized for her quick response after her grandfather suffered a heart attack at his home.

Mariah Colby didn’t panic when Oscar Luce, 49, was stricken while he was working on a vehicle.

A cardiac patient since 1997, Luce said he suddenly felt out of breath, so he came inside and sat down on the couch. He knew he was having a heart attack.

Mariah, the only other one home at the time, grabbed a cell phone and dialed 911. Mariah also fetched her grandfather’s bottle of nitroglycerine pills, managed to open the childproof cap and then placed two pills under his tongue, just as the dispatcher had instructed.

The operator told Mariah to check her grandfather’s breathing and hold her hand on his chest to see if she could feel his heartbeat. Mariah calmly followed the instructions.

“She told me to tap on his chest a couple of times to see if he could talk and shake his arm,” Mariah said. “I shook his arm and he didn’t talk. I put my hand on his chest and pushed like the operator told me and he took a great big deep breath.”

Gardiner Rescue paramedic Michael Kimball said he couldn’t believe how calm Mariah was when he and his partner arrived after the Nov. 26 call.

Gov. John Baldacci was also impressed and plans to issue a proclamation recognizing Mariah’s calm behavior and quick instincts.