2008 Heroes Awards
Youth Good Samaritan Award - Tyler
Kirkland
On
a Friday afternoon in late summer, a 16-year-old Heritage High School student
kept a loaded school bus from hitting a utility pole after the driver apparently
had health problems. Heritage High Assistant Principal, Earl McMahan, confirmed
that students and drivers behind the bus said the driver was “very
disoriented.” Tyler Kirkland had ridden with this driver for six years.
When the driver pulled
out of the high school driveway, he was on the right side of the highway where
there are mini-speed bumps. He kept running over them. The noise from the
speed bumps alerted Tyler that there was a problem. As Tyler was walking to the
front of the bus, the bus drove over the curb. Tyler spoke to the driver, and
at the same time leaned forward and saw through the windshield that the bus was
headed toward a telephone pole. He took control of the steering wheel from the
driver, hit the brakes and got the bus stopped on East Lamar Alexander Parkway.
Mr. McMahan was quoted as
saying “It is a credit to him (student Tyler Kirkland) that he took a leadership
role and got the bus under control. Potentially it could have been a tough
situation, but he stopped it.”
Medical
Award -
Dr.
Russell Smith
Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium responsible for difficult-to-treat
infections in humans. The highest rates of MRSA in the country are in TN, KY,
MS, and AL. These are facts well known to Dr. Russell Smith, chairman of Blount
Memorial’s infection control committee.
Dr. Smith’s participation
in a program to better identify and prevent the transmission of MRSA has
resulted in measurable decreases in the rates of MRSA and lengths of stay for
hospitalization. Results of this project also include tools with which to
better educate staff, families, and the community on the process and prevention
of this prevalent infection.
With Dr. Smith’s
leadership in this program, Blount Memorial was among five health care leaders
to receive a 2007 Tennesseans Improving Patient Safety (TIPS) award from the TN
Department of Health, and has been cited as an example of best practices for the
MRSA-reduction program.
Community Impact Award -
Laura T. Harrill
Since 1988, Laura Harrill
has been doing exceptional work in our county through her employment at Blount
Memorial Hospital. As BMH’s Wellness Coordinator, Laura has actively advocated
for the health and well-being of the community. She has been instrumental in
the initiation of community-based wellness programs, and the hospital’s
expansion of the wellness program.
When the opportunity
arose to develop a Community Health Initiative in Blount County, Laura was ready
to take the lead. Through her efforts and extensive needs assessment, work has
begun in the areas of substance abuse, teen pregnancy, violence/abuse/neglect,
mental health, child obesity, and suicide prevention. Additionally, Laura has
initiated steps to address the environmental health needs in Blount County,
including improved air and water quality and other land issues. In her efforts,
Laura builds sustainability by involving community partners such as the Public
Health Department.
Laura continues to
exhibit the ethical, professional and personal values that make her so effective
in her role. She performs her duties while upholding the highest standards of
honesty and integrity. An exemplary role model, her positive attitude and
spirit help create enthusiasm in the workplace and in the community. Laura’s
record and accomplishments clearly show her to be committed to making a better,
healthier community in Blount County.
Law
Enforcement Award -
Dek Melton
On
Thursday, December 6, 2007, Alcoa Police officer Dek Melton was notified by a
passerby that a traffic accident had just occurred at the intersection of
Wrights Road and Harding Street.
Upon arrival, officer
Melton looked into the burning vehicle. He did not see anyone and was told that
the driver may have fled on foot. While Officer Melton was tending to the other
driver and her young passenger, he heard a noise, looked over and saw that the
driver was still in the burning vehicle.
Officer Melton ran to the
burning SUV, jumped in and dragged the driver to the hill just before the flames
overtook it entirely. The truck was nearly engulfed in flames, but somehow he
was able to get the driver out without injury to himself or further injury to
the driver. “In that moment…” Officer Melton saved the life of the driver.
Good Samaritan Award -Noel
Case
While
taking a swim on September 11, 2007 in Destin, FL, Noel and Laura Case heard
shouts for help. Five people had been caught in the tide and were being pulled
away from shore at a rapid pace. Noel and Laura immediately took action. Noel
went into the water to help while Laura stayed on shore to spot those caught in
the undertow.
After helping three of
the party to shore to be comforted by Laura, Noel and another bystander, Bob,
went back to find the other two, who had been pulled under. Searching through
the foamy water, the would-be rescuers saw a “shadow” moving under the water. A
few seconds later a wave brought the shadow, one of the missing men, directly to
Noel. While Noel and Bob pulled the unconscious man to shore, they informed a
lifeguard that there was another man missing in the water.
Sadly, the two men pulled
from under the water that day did not survive. However, thanks to the bravery
and quick thinking of the Cases, three of the five family members from Louisiana
were rescued.
While the experience was
harrowing, Noel does not regret taking action that day. Although he would not
encourage others to face dangerous riptides, he felt he could not do otherwise -
a testimony to the generous spirit and strong values of our community.
Approximately a month
later, a survivor of the experience e-mailed Noel to thank him for his courage
and bravery. In that message she wrote, “Words cannot express (my) heartfelt
gratitude.”
Military
Award -
Roxanne
Forbes
Roxanne
Forbes, a resident of Blount County and member of our Red Cross DAT (Disaster
Action Team) served with the SAF (Services to the Armed Forces) in Baghdad, Iraq
for six months during 2007.
There
are SAF stations all over the world, including areas of conflict. SAF deployed
staff live and work side-by-side with military personnel on the military
installations wearing uniforms and following the same protocol as service
members. The installations are self-contained with office space, residential
trailers, a gym and cafeteria that are all surrounded by tall cement walls.
In addition to emergency
messaging, SAF team members utilize a vast network of resources to assist
service men and women around the clock. The Red Cross collaborates with
military aid societies to provide financial assistance during a family crisis,
such as emergency travel expenses, burial costs or funds to meet urgent health,
welfare or social needs.
Roxanne attended training at Fort Benning, GA before being deployed. In
Baghdad, Roxanne was stationed at Camp Liberty and delivered between 350 and 400
messages per week, usually working 10 hours a day.
SAF
staff endure separation from family, friends and the comforts of home while
placing themselves in potentially dangerous situations. Through it all, they
exhibit an unyielding commitment to members of the American military.
Pay
It Forward Award -
Jan &
Johna Luttrell
In the springtime of 2007,
Johna Luttrell was awakened by her mother Jan who was pointing at her mouth and
throat. Jan was choking on dry cereal. Johna, age 20, had taken Nurse
Assistant training at Heritage High School where she was taught how to help a
conscious choking victim. Johna, being awakened from sleep, did not know what
was happening. Jan motioned she needed her to perform the Heimlich maneuver.
Johna was in a panic seeing her mother choking and quickly did the procedure.
When the cereal was ejected, Johna said she felt a great relief and felt
privileged knowing she saved her mother’s life.
Jan Lutrell is Assistant
Parts Manager at Neil-Sandler Ford. In October, 2007 a parts department
employee, Harrison Hatcher, retired after a long tenure. Mr. Hatcher wanted to
take the Parts Manager, Donnie Humphries and Jan out for a steak dinner because
they had been so good to him and he wanted to show his gratitude to them.
While dining, Jan noticed
Mr. Hatcher was not talking. He put his hand to his throat. Jan asked him if
he was choking-he nodded yes. Ms. Luttrell and Mr. Humphries stood Mr. Hatcher
up and Jan performed the Heimlich maneuver on him and the piece of steak was
ejected. A doctor from a nearby table came over and told Jan she did a good
job. Once again, a life was saved.
