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American Red Cross Announces
“REAL HEROES” of Bucks County
Levittown, PA, March 4, 2009 – March is Red Cross Month and celebrate the American Red Cross Lower Bucks County Chapter is proud to announce the honorees at the annual “Real Heroes Celebration”. The committee narrowed the field down to 20 outstanding recipients.
Join us as we tell these groups and individuals how much they mean to Lower Bucks County. We’re going to say “thanks” for all they do to make Bucks County a safer, healthier and better place to live. And we’re going to thank them for showing us that the courage to save a neighbor is in all of us. The Real Heroes Breakfast is being held at Pen Ryn Mansion in Bensalem, Pennsylvania on March 26, 2009 from 7:30 am to 9:30 am. Tickets for the event are $25.00 and can be reserved on line at www.redcrosslbcc.org or by calling 215.946.4870 x 113. |
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Medical Hero: Bensalem Rescue Squad
Bensalem, Pennsylvania
On Thursday, May 29, 2008, a squad from Bensalem Rescue received a call for a pediatric drowning. Upon arriving at the scene the team of 4 leapt from the ambulance and within seconds reached Jude Antoni. They then performed life-saving care on the boy for 10 to 12 minutes before taking off to the hospital.
Our community is proud to recognize Christopher L. Adams, Michael Armstrong, Lindsay Brescia, and Edward C. Copper Jr. as American Red Cross Lower Bucks County Chapter Real Heroes. |
Not pictured: Sara Cumming and Andrew Haugen |
Community Partner Hero: Brookside Swim and Tennis Club
Yardley, Pennsylvania
On July 23, 2008, a severe thunderstorm rolled through the area. The lifeguards quickly evacuated the pool area. During this time a patron moved from a pavilion to find better shelter in the clubhouse. A bolt of lightening struck the tree next to the pavilion, the electricity traveled through the ground and struck the patron, Bridget Gallagher. When the team of lifeguards rolled Bridget over to provide care they saw she was holding 3-year-old Jack LaMorte in her arms.
The young lifeguards worked as a team to save the lives of two patrons and help shield other young children from the frightening scene. The skill and intuition displayed that day was well beyond their years.
Our community is proud to have James C. Borda, Joseph A. Borda, Maria Ciaralli, Sara Cumming, Andrew Haugen, Daniel Haugen, David Haugen, Daniel LaMorte, Robert LaMorte, Meghan Weiser and Sarah K. Wells as a part of the Brookside Swim and Tennis Club. |
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Community Partner Hero: Edward Budman
Bensalem, Pennsylvania
We are proud to honor Ed as a Real Hero in the community because of his compassion to help others who need blood. He began donating blood at the age of 17 and has given blood, apheresis and granulocyte donations. In addition, in Ed’s lifetime, he has donated 41 gallons of blood, saving around 985 patients. |
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Law Enforcement Hero: Sergeant Charles Burns
Levittown, Pennsylvania
When responding to a call of a suicidal subject, Chuck arrived on scene to find a man hanging from the I-95 overpass. The man planned to jump off the bridge and fall over 80 feet into oncoming traffic. After speaking with the man for over one hour, Chuck noticed a change in his body language and the man sliding toward the barrier. Chuck then lunged forward to grab the man as he continued to push off the barrier. By this act, Chuck was almost pulled over the barrier as well.
Chuck’s decisive actions saved a man and the community is honored to recognize him as a law enforcement Real Hero and is thankful that he is a part of the Bristol Township Police Department. |
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Law Enforcement Hero: Officer Jarrod Eisenhauer
Levittown, Pennsylvania
Jarrod’s heroism and selflessness was the reason why a man was rescued from the path of an oncoming train. With the swift moving train within 20 feet, Jarrod jumped into its path to physically remove the man from the tracks. Without regard to his own safety and with a train roaring past, Jarrod then restrained the man until an immediate threat had passed. |
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Good Samaritan Hero: Bridget M. Gallagher
Yardley, Pennsylvania
On July 23, 2008, Bridget was enjoying an afternoon at Brookside Swim and Tennis Club while watching over the LaMorte children. A storm rolled into the area and Bridget took shelter under a pavilion with the children. When lightening started to strike she knew it was unsafe under the open air pavilion and began to move the children into the clubhouse.
As she was moving, a lightening bolt struck the tree next to her sending the electricity through the ground and into her body. Bridget was thrown to the ground while holding Jack LaMorte and remained unconscious. When she awoke in the hospital her concern for Jack above herself was evident. Bridget’s instincts to wrap Jack in her arms caused her to take more of the lightening strike and save Jack’s life. |
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Youth Hero: Riley Gillespie
Langhorne, Pennsylvania
Riley Gillespie was spurred to action after his best friend had gone through a four-year battle with Leukemia. On September 13, 2008, Riley hosted an Alex’s Lemonade Stand as well as organized a walk, carnival and car show in an effort to raise money for children’s cancer research. His vision helped raise over $11,000 to support one week of cancer research. Riley’s compassion and dedication to a cause close to his heart has made him an American Red Cross Lower Bucks County Chapter Real Hero. |
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Law Enforcement Hero: Trooper Joseph M. Irwin
Bensalem, Pennsylvania
When responding to a call of a suicidal subject, Joe arrived on scene to find a man hanging from the I-95 overpass. The man planned to jump off the bridge and fall over 80 feet into oncoming traffic. After speaking with the man for over one hour, Joe noticed a change in his body language and the man sliding toward the barrier. Joe then lunged forward to grab the man as he continued to push off the barrier. By this act, Joe was almost pulled over the barrier as well. |
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Law Enforcement Hero: Corporal Richard T. Mahony
Warrington, Pennsylvania
Alongside Officer Joseph M. Rosowski Sr., while enduring heavy smoke and flames, Richard was able to enter a burning home to help save the life of an unconscious young woman who was trapped inside. Once outside of the home, Richard administered first aid.
We thank Richard for tremendous bravery. The community is honored to recognize him as a law enforcement Real Hero and is thankful that he is a part of the Northampton Township Police Department. |
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Fire Rescue Hero: Morrisville Fire Company
Morrisville, Pennsylvania
On September 17, 2008, 4 members from the Morrisville Fire Company showed tremendous teamwork and bravery in firefighting and rescue operations at Colonial Gardens Apartments on Plaza Boulevard. They arrived on the scene with no reports of entrapment and utilized their training to quickly locate two unconscious victims. Acting as a team, they then brought both occupants to safety and performed CPR on the man whose heart had stopped beating.
This courageous act saved two lives. Our community is honored to recognize Jason R. DeShields, Timothy Jones, John Weiss III, and Matt Wiedenhaefer as Real Heroes and is thankful that they are part of the Morrisville Fire Department in Morrisville, Pennsylvania. |
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Law Enforcement Hero: Officer Thomas Polistina
Levittown, Pennsylvania
When responding to a call of a suicidal subject, Tom arrived on scene to find a man hanging from the I-95 overpass. The man planned to jump off the bridge and fall over 80 feet into oncoming traffic. After speaking with the man for over one hour, Tom noticed a change in the man’s body language and the man sliding toward the barrier. Tom then lunged forward to grab the man as he continued to push off the barrier. By this act, Tom was almost pulled over the barrier as well.
Tom’s decisive actions saved a man and the community is honored to recognize him as a law enforcement Real Hero and is thankful that he is a part of the Bristol Township Police Department. |
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Fire Rescue Hero: Battalion Chief, Jeffrey Rastetter
Bensalem, Pennsylvania
On June 16, 2008, Jeff’s immediate response to an off-duty call helped save the lives of a family who was unaware that their home was on fire. The first one on the scene, he kicked open the burning door, passed the flaming entry way and continued to check for any occupants without his protective gear on. Jeff’s courage helped an 8-year-old child, his mother, father and grandparents escape from the burning home. |
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Good Samaritan Hero: Theresa Robbins
Bensalem, Pennsylvania
On January 16, 2008, Theresa was at her normal post as a crossing guard in Bensalem, when she noticed a Cadillac with an obstructed windshield disobeying her direction. She dove in front of the vehicle, pushed the children out of harms way and was struck by the car. |
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Good Samaritan Hero: John and Cindy Rodgers
Churchville, Pennsylvania
On December 27, 2008, while delivering papers on their normal route, John and Cindy noticed three days of papers accumulated at a customers’ front door. They looked through the window and saw John Hornig on the floor in his family room. John was unable to assist himself, unable to call for help and was suffering from serious injuries resulting from the fall. |
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Law Enforcement Hero: Officer Joseph M. Rosowski Sr.
Southampton, Pennsylvania
Alongside Corporal Richard T. Mahony, Joe charged into a burning home and ran to the second floor where he saw heavy smoke and flames. Joe’s tenacity aided him in identifying an unconscious woman, who at first looked like a pile of bedding, and drag her to safety. Once outside of the home, Joe administered first aid.
We thank Joe for his tremendous bravery. The community is honored to recognize him as a law enforcement Real Hero and is thankful that is a part of the Northampton Township Police Department. |
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Law Enforcement Hero: Trooper Dave Santiago
Bensalem, Pennsylvania
When responding to a call of a suicidal subject, Dave arrived on scene to find a man hanging from the I-95 overpass. The man planned to jump off the bridge and fall over 80 feet into oncoming traffic. After speaking with the man for over one hour, Dave noticed a change in his body language and the man sliding toward the barrier. When his fellow officers were being pulled over the barrier during a rescue attempt, Dave lunged forward to grab their gun belts and pull them to safety. |
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Good Samaritan Hero: Kristen Schmidt
Bensalem, Pennsylvania
On Thursday, March 29, 2008, Kristen was enjoying a spring evening in her backyard. She began helping a neighbor search for their young child, Jude, when she noticed a commotion in the neighbor’s yard. Kristen’s husband then ran toward her with Jude Antoni in his arms. Jude had fallen into the pool and was limp, blue, not breathing and didn’t have a heartbeat.
First on the scene, Kristen is credited with providing the initial CPR that helped save Jude Antoni’s life and truly is a Real Hero in the community. |
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Medical Hero: Robert T. Sponheimer
Bensalem, Pennsylvania
On Thursday, March 29, 2008, Rob was leaving the Bensalem Fire Marshal’s Office when he heard a 9-1-1 dispatch for a 2-year-old boy who had drown in a pool. Upon arriving he ran to the backyard and began administering immediate care.
Rob saw Jude Antoni’s blue face and tapped on the child’s back to clear some water out of his airway and lungs. Rob then ran to the front of the home to deliver the child to the ambulance, and drove to the hospital while the medic crew continued to work on the child. |
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Medical Hero: Thomas Topley
Bensalem, Pennsylvania
On Thursday, May 29, 2008, the Bensalem Fire Marshal’s office and Tom’s squad received a 9-1-1 dispatch for a 2-year-old boy who had drowned in a pool. Upon arriving at the scene as a volunteer for the Northampton Fire Company, Tom joined the ambulance team to perform life-saving care on the boy for 10 to 12 minutes before taking off to the hospital.
Tom’s immediate response and quick action on the scene saved the life of a young boy who was in cardiac arrest. |
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Fire Rescue Hero: Jennifer Williams
Levittown, Pennsylvania
On June 16, 2008, at 5 a.m., Jennifer discovered smoke coming from the 2nd floor and flames engulfing the front doorway of a home in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. She called for help and alerted neighbors. Because of that vigilance, a family was saved from a potentially disastrous fire. |
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Contact us with questions and/or comments: lowbucks@redcrosslbcc.org
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