Real heroes

Highlights from the Real Heroes Celebration

On the morning of Thursday, June 10, 2010 the Islands Chapter of the American Red Cross and members of our communities gathered at the Port of Anacortes warehouse to honor our chapter’s Real Heroes. Chapter volunteers from throughout the islands came together to put on the breakfast event, which raised $30,000 for the Islands Chapter.

Several Real Heroes were honored at the event.  Eric Johnson dedicated years organizing the building of the Anacortes Family Shelter in Anacortes.  Steve Krebs, a Port of Anacortes security officer, rescued a boat owner from the frigid waters of Fidalgo Bay. Red Cross Instructor & Lifeguard Judy Jensen performed CPR on a facility patron who collapsed in the fitness center, saving his life. Oak Harbor School District employee Ron Dunphy took a Red Cross First Aid class a few years ago. He put that training into action earlier this year when he helped a student at Oak Harbor Elementary School who was choking.

Two of this year’s Real Heroes awards went to the Island Hospital Emergency Response Team and to Airlift Northwest crews for their heroic actions on the night of April 2, 2010 after an explosion and fire rocked the Tesoro refinery. When staff at the ER heard about the explosion they called for extra help. A full trauma team was activated, extra nurses were called in, housekeeping staff pitched in to mobilize equipment and supplies, security guards managed the hospital entrances. The team at Airlift Northwest also mobilized all 4 of their helicopters to Fidalgo Island despite a severe windstorm, which made flying treacherous. Two refinery workers, severely burned in the accident, were stabilized at the Island Hospital ER and transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle quickly and professionally. Two other victims were treated at Skagit Valley Hospital in Mt. Vernon and flown to Seattle as well.

Finally, two Red Cross volunteers with years of service were honored as Spirit of the Red Cross Real Heroes. Marlene Gailey has been a volunteer at Naval Hospital Oak Harbor for more than 20 years. She is an integral part of the hospital volunteer team who serve active duty military and their families in our chapter area. Anacortes resident, Jean Armstrong began her Red Cross volunteerism in 1984 when she completed the nursing course and decided to continue as a volunteer. She has been deployed to more than 30 national and local disasters, including Hurricane Juan. Jean helped to establish the National American Red Cross Jane Delano Award, which recognizes nurses and the service they provide the American Red Cross during disasters. She has also served on the National Nursing Advisory Committee and helped develop and implement American Red Cross mental health services at both the national and local levels.

The Islands Chapter of the American Red Cross was pleased to host the Real Heroes event, and would like to thank the community for supporting our mission and helping us recognize these extraordinary individuals.