By Amy Rowley
How do you define a hero? How do you put into words the sincere appreciation and devotion you have to one person? How do you describe what that person means to you?
On June 1, the local American Red Cross will gather 200 community leaders together to honor heroes from Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason and Thurston Counties. “These individuals reflect the mission of the Red Cross by responding in time of need with selfless acts of courage and compassion,” says Tracy Peacock, Mount Rainier Chapter Executive of the American Red Cross.
The Celebration of Heroes Gala was established almost 20 years ago in an effort to raise public awareness of volunteers and local heroes who carry out the daily mission of the Red Cross.
The event will honor individuals, like Ed Trevorrow and Deputy Jason Mauermann, who put personal needs aside to help others.
Delivering a baby over the phone
For 19 years, Ed Trevorrow has been the compassionate, patient operator on the other end of Thurston County 911 calls. “Even after almost 20 years, I still enjoy being in the middle of chaos and managing a situation,” says Trevorrow.
It’s not uncommon for 911 to receive a call from an anxious soon-to-be-father during labor. “We have protocols to help people through situations,” explains Trevorrow who promptly dispatched an ambulance to the scene when he received this type of call recently. What happened next though was unprecedented.
“All of a sudden the dad said the baby is coming,” recalls Trevorrow who then learned that the couple planned to deliver the baby in a bathtub. The couple called 911 when they realized that the person was going to assist with the birth would not make it to their home in time.
Trevorrow proceeded to talk the dad through the childbirth and deliver the baby.
“Since the baby was delivered in the bath water, I knew it wouldn’t cry. I instructed the dad to not cut the cord and to flick the baby’s foot to prompt it to breathe.”
When the medics arrived on the scene, the baby and mom were in stable condition and did not need to be transported to the hospital.
“We are here to deal with the worst things that could ever happen to you and get you through it,” notes Trevorrow who feels very humble about the Red Cross honor. “I was basically a bystander in a natural childbirth. The parents simply needed someone to tell them what to do. Credit should go to the dad who didn’t hesitate for a second and did exactly what he needed to do.”
Pulling a woman from a smoke-filled home
In August 2011, Deputy Mauermann was patrolling Lewis County around 2:00 am when he heard a dispatch call for fire. The situation turned urgent when the female caller began to panic. She was trying to crawl form her Salkum home but was having difficulty. “Something just didn’t seem right,” reports Mauermann who says that sheriff’s deputies make their own decision to help on fire and aid calls depending on the circumstances and their geographical proximity.
“I knew that Salkum was a volunteer fire department. The time it would would take for them to grab their gear and equipment could mean a delay in the fire response, so I decided to get there as quickly as I could,” he says.
When Mauermann reached the street address, he found three homes and no smoke or flames. “As I got closer to the home at the end of the road, I could see that the windows were dark and began to smell some smoke in the air,” he recalls.
Mauermann reached the sliding glass door and could feel the heat through his gloves. “I popped the glass door two inches to make sure no flames would shoot out. When only black smoke billowed out, I ripped open the door and could see a female lying in the fetal position on the floor.” She was unconscious and barely breathing.
Mauermann grabbed her wrists and pulled her out onto the porch. The phone cord was wrapped around the woman. Until he cut through the line, he could’t pull her further to safety. Two fire fighters arrived to help Mauermann carry her up the driveway and away from the house, as flames started to build up. Mauermann stayed with the woman until medical assistance arrived.
“I didn’t know how to feel or what I had done until someone said ‘you just saved her life,’” recalls Mauermann. “I’m lucky that everything worked out the best that it could under the circumstances.”
Both Trevorrow and Mauermann credit their training for acting calmly in the middle of an emergency. “You stop thinking about yourself and rely on your training and taking care of others,” describes Mauermann.
“I am very grateful that organizations, like the Red Cross, recognize individuals who go beyond expected duties,” shares Mauermann who received numerous commendations after his life saving accomplishment.
“It’s a great thrill to know that we’re doing some good in the world. Most of the time, we’re dealing with very difficult situations. Every once in awhile you get a happy one, like delivering a baby,” says Trevorrow.
Beyond recognizing heroes, the Red Cross alleviates suffering by mobilizing the power of volunteers and generous donors. During the past year, the local Red Cross chapter has:
- Provided meals, shelter, and financial assistance to 560 individuals after disaster struck their homes and families.
- Trained and utilized more than 500 volunteers to serve their neighbors locally, nationally and around the world.
- Trained more than 18,000 people in health and safety classes who are now ready to save lives, help neighbors, and keep their families safe.
- Helped 1,480 youth and community members prepare for disasters.
- Responded to a local emergency every 72 hours.
- Assisted 1,164 military families with emergency communications, welfare inquiries and other services.
Maybe the person didn’t save your life or help you rebuild after a fire. Perhaps it’s just the solid friend, neighbor, or cousin that’s always there when you need a helping hand.
I am thankful for the everyday heroes that Ed Trevorrow and Deputy Maureen exemplify.
For more information about the Mount Rainier Chapter of The American Red Cross, click here.
