Locals recognized for heroism

By Brenda Erdahl

Seven local heroes received a pat on the back by Wright County Sheriff Sean Deringer and were recognized for their quick thinking and lifesaving actions by commissioners at the Tuesday, Nov. 7 Wright County Board meeting.

“This is pretty special,” Deringer said. “This is a little different forum from what we’ve done in the past, but I really wanted to publicly thank those in our community who have stepped up and done amazing things.”

Sheriff Deringer introduced the heroes and told their stories one by one then presented them with a plaque. Among them was Josh Reed, a member of the Waverly Fire Department. On January 9, Wright County Deputies were dispatched to a medical on Highway 12. A mother was in a vehicle on the side of the road reporting that her one-month-old child had stopped breathing. The baby had been crying then stopped suddenly so she pulled over. She noticed that the child wasn’t breathing and was turning blue, so she put the baby on the hood of the vehicle and started chest compressions. Reed arrived and took over chest compressions and rescued breathing. When the deputies arrived, Reed was holding the child who was breathing, alert and crying. The baby was transported by ambulance and is doing well today.

 

“This is one example of someone in our community being in the right place at the right time and being willing to take actions he needed to. The child is alive today largely because of the actions you took,” Sheriff Deringer told Reed before presenting him with an award.

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