Tuesday's Internet Edition, July 08, 2008.
Bad Air Down
Stop, Drop & Roll
Hero Honored by Red Cross
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Michelle Norman is this year’s Education Hero, one of eight recognized for their acts of courage or kindness. This year’s winners offer stories of life-saving events as well as program development to benefit the community.
As a volunteer firefighter for the Bastrop Volunteer Fire Department and head of the fire prevention program for Bastrop ISD, Norman teaches students about fire safety and prevention. A 5-year-old boy, Jesse Baldenegro, having heard one of Norman’s presentations in October of last year, saved his little sister from their burning home. He remembered Norman’s words “bad air up, good air down” and led his sister to safety.
Norman said, “Jesse listened, thank goodness, because on November 28 his house caught fire and he used the things I taught him and got himself as well as his 3-year-old sister out of the burning house.”
When Jesse was asked questions by the deputies how did he know what to do, he told them he just did what “Super-Cool Firefighter Michelle”, told him to do, which was “bad air up, good air down.”
The boy recognized Norman at the scene and told local television news crews that he knew just what to do because of “Super Cool Firefighter Michelle.”
Michelle has been part of a fire department all her life. Her father has been a fire fighter since before her birth and a police officer since right after she was born. “So it’s in the blood. My mom is an Austin Police Department Dispatcher (10 years) and my brother is a Commissioned firefighter,” she said.
“My Chief, who is also my father, has taught me to ‘Prepare for the worst and hope for the Best’. Well, the worst is just not an option with me.
“When it comes to the kids, my biggest fear in this job is finding a child in a fire because they just were never told what to do! If one child hears what I say and uses it, then it’s all worth it!” said Michelle.
This is the fourth year for the Heroes of Central Texas Celebration, which honors everyday heroes from the nine counties that the American Red Cross of Central Texas serves.