[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 19626]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                COLORADO KIDS' MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS

 Mr. BENNET. Madam President, today I wish to honor two young 
heroes from Colorado, who will receive the organization 9-1-1 for Kids' 
Medal of Honor this week. The medal is bestowed on a young person who 
distinguishes himself or herself by calling 9-1-1 in an emergency and 
helps save someone's life or report a crime. An award is also presented 
to the dispatcher who processed the call and provided the appropriate 
emergency response.
  Earlier this year, Nathan Averhoff, a third grader at Leroy Drive 
Elementary School in Northglenn, and Abigail Vicioso, a third grader at 
Skyview Elementary School in Thornton, both found themselves in a 
difficult situation involving one of their parents.
  Nathan, who is 9 years old, called the Thornton Communication Center 
on April 23 when his mom began having a seizure. Dispatcher Edward 
Coddington answered Nathan's call and stayed on the phone with him for 
6 minutes as Nathan provided updates on his mom's condition. Nathan 
remained calm and said his dad had told him what to do in case of a 
medical emergency. Once the seizure began to subside, Nathan held his 
mom's head to avoid further injury. His quick actions meant that there 
was no delay in seeking medical attention for his mom.
  On September 8, 9-year-old Abby called 9-1-1 on her cell phone when 
she found her mother on the bathroom floor, dizzy, weak and vomiting. 
Dispatcher Karen Salazar of the city of Thornton 9-1-1 Dispatch Center 
answered her call. Although Abby was scared and worried about her mom, 
she answered Karen's questions clearly and calmly, enabling Karen to 
get the proper emergency assistance to Abby's mom, who was eventually 
transported to a local hospital.
  Both of these kids knew exactly what to do. They didn't panic, and 
they made sure their moms got the care they needed. They and the 
dispatchers who helped them serve as a great example of how important 
it is for kids to know what to do when trouble arises.
  The organization 9-1-1 for Kids has made it its mission to ensure 
that kids of all ages understand the importance and proper use of 9-1-
1. It does so by raising awareness through conferences, media outreach, 
training activities, school events, and by highlighting the stories of 
kids like Nathan and Abby.
  I join all Coloradans in offering our gratitude to dispatchers Edward 
Coddington and Karen Salazar for their service to their communities and 
congratulate Nathan and Abby for this award as well as their bravery 
and calm in the face of an emergency.

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