AMERICAN RED CROSS

CITATION to

MARY SIDES BARNETT

 On October 23, 2007, Mary Sides Barnett, trained in the American Red Cross Community First Aid and Safety, helped save the life of six-month-old Nicholas J. Dwiggins.  Nicholas was outside in his stroller while his mom walked to the end of the driveway to get the mail. Nicholas’ mom looked back and saw him slumped in the stroller and knew something was wrong. She ran to the stroller and Nicholas was blue and showed no signs of life.  She picked him up and ran toward some neighbors who were walking nearby.  She gave Nicholas to Mary Barnett and she ran inside to call 9-1-1.  When she returned, Mary had given Nicholas three rescue breaths and he had begun to breathe.  EMS arrived and took over.  Without a doubt, the skills learned in the American Red Cross Health and Safety Services course and used by Mary Sides Barnett contributed to saving Nicholas Dwiggins’ life.

For this act, Mary Sides Barnett has been awarded the American Red Cross Certificate of Merit. This is the highest award given by the American Red Cross to an individual or team of individuals who saves or sustains a life by using skills and knowledge learned in an American Red Cross Health and Safety Services course.  The certificate bears the signature of the President of the United States who is the honorary Chairman of the American Red Cross, and the signature of the Chairman of the American Red Cross.

This action exemplifies the highest degree of concern of one human being for another who is in distress.

Pictures

Nicholas 1           Nicholas 2          Nicholas & William            Mary & Nicholas

Click on pictures to download high-resolution pictures.

The Certificate of Merit and Merit Badge

((L-R) Tom Fleming, Chair of the Davie County Commission; Jennifer Dwiggins, mother of Nicholas; Nicholas Dwiggins; Mary Sides Barnett; Dr. Suzanne Hess, Board Chair of NWNC Chapter; and Will Dwiggins, father of Nicholas.