Red Cross honors 5 with hero awards

BANGOR – A dental hygienist and a local dentist were among those honored on Nov. 8 at the American Red Cross Real Heroes Breakfast, but not for anything to do with their professions.

Dental hygienist Kim Henderson was watching her son have his hair cut when hairdresser Debbie Diehl saw her young daughter choking on a piece of candy.

“I didn’t know what to do. I felt very helpless,” Diehl said Thursday during one of the videos at the breakfast.

But Henderson had taken first aid and knew to use the Heimlich maneuver on the child, and eventually the candy came out.

“Probably the most precious day of my life was when Kim saved her,” said Diehl, who has since called the Red Cross to sign up for her own first aid training.

Dr. Ryan Davis was visiting Schoodic Point with his family when they heard two women in the water off the rocks, calling for help. Davis flattened himself on the rocks, hooking one foot behind him so he could reach out to Stephanie Wise and help get her to safety.

Also given a Real Hero Award were:

. Patrick Aldrich, whose first aid training through Boy Scout Troop 50 in Lincoln prepared him to help best friend Spencer Thurlow after a chain saw slipped and carved a foot-long gash in his leg. Aldrich also teaches first aid to Boy Scouts during the summer at Camp Roosevelt in Eddington.

. Susan and Robert Murchison, who saved Scott Valente after a boat he was in overturned on Chamberlain Lake.

. Student lifeguard Melissa Johnson and aquatic director Kevin Alley, who revived diving instructor Stanley Smith after he collapsed on the floor next to the University of Maine at Machias pool.

Some 500 community members were on hand to give standing ovations to the honorees at the breakfast hosted by the Pine Tree Chapter and WABI-TV Channel 5. Each story was a little different.

Also honored were Real Hero nominees Nicholas Cyr, who had given aid during a gun-related emergency; David Leighton, who gave assistance during a water emergency; and Jay and Jacie MacArthur, a father and daughter who helped out when a canoe capsized.

Pine Tree Chapter Executive Director Susan Bell congratulated the honorees and thanked Red Cross staff and more than 300 disaster volunteers who help those affected by fires and disasters in eight counties.

Over a 72-hour period Nov. 3-5, she said, the Red Cross put volunteers on standby as the remains of Hurricane Noel came up the coast; helped eight families after an apartment building flooded in Rockland; assisted two families left homeless by fire; put on a CPR-first aid class and answered five armed forces emergency calls to help locate military personnel needed home for family emergencies.

“That’s your Red Cross,” Bell emphasized, adding that she hoped those attending would consider making a contribution.

Contributions to the Pine Tree Chapter, American Red Cross, may be sent to 33 Mildred Ave., Bangor 04401.