People can become heroes at any moment. For example, a group of firefighters ended their vacation with a harrowing car rescue. Allen Chung and his colleagues at the Long Beach Fire Department were returning home from Mammoth Lakes on January 25, 2022. As they passed through Independence, California, around 3 p.m. that day, the firefighters witnessed a tragic accident on the freeway.
Trapped inside the car was a volunteer fire captain from the Independence Fire Department. Allen and his friends jumped into action immediately to assess the patient. They used their skills and experience to assist the Lone Pine Fire Department in extricating the trapped fire captain.
They didn’t just stop there. Once the captain was out of the vehicle, these heroic men followed through this rescue by joining the transport ambulance. They drove more than 20 miles to the helicopter landing zone to ensure that the injured captain received the lifesaving care he needed.
Be prepared to act when emergencies arise by taking a Red Cross first aid course. When you understand first aid, you'll gain the ability to help those in need. First aid certification classes teach you how to respond to specific situations, which will help you care for people in crisis as they wait for medical professionals to arrive.
For 18 years we have honored Hometown Heroes in our community who have stepped up when there was a need and a call for help. Do you know someone like that? A local hero, someone who provided first-aid, saved a drowning person or even helped someone a burning car? Nominate them for our 18th annual Hometown Hero Award!