HONOLULU — Billy Newell, a security guard and a U.S. Navy base police officer, will be one of two people honored as the 2012 Red Cross Lifesaver Heroes of the Year, Saturday at the Red Cross Heroes Breakfast at the
HONOLULU — Billy Newell, a security guard and a U.S. Navy base police officer, will be one of two people honored as the 2012 Red Cross Lifesaver Heroes of the Year, Saturday at the Red Cross Heroes Breakfast at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa.
Hawai‘i News Now is recognizing this week, ending Oct. 13 as Red Cross Heroes Week and acknowledges the kind, courageous, and selfless deeds of these heroes which are directly linked to the Red Cross mission of preventing and alleviating human suffering, states the American Red Cross, Hawai‘i, website.
In addition to Newell, Shannon Yonamine, a nurse at ‘Iolani School and Director of Health Services, share the Lifesaver Heroes honor. Shaun Toy is the Military Hero, Officer Marc Cobb-Adams and Officer Christian Sahlen is the In the Line of Duty Heroes, Riggs Silva is the Youth Hero, Indy Otsuka is the Animal Hero, and Volunteers of the Year Heroes include Robert Via of O‘ahu, Laurine Carvalho of East Hawai‘i, Tom Kaneo of West Hawai‘i, and Shannan Pyland of Maui.
Newell was dining at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Mana when he observed a military officer gesturing for help, states a release from the Red Cross.
Nearby, a woman was choking on a piece of steak, prompting Newell into taking charge of the situation.
He instructed bystands to call 9-1-1 and started to deliver abdominal thrusts, chest thrusts and back blows in an attempt at clearing the obstruction.
It did not work.
Newell cleared the area in anticipation of the lady losing consciousness and needing to lay her down.
He looked for the obstruction, but could not locate the piece of meat. He provided rescue breaths to no avail. The lady, by this time, was unconscious and started turning purple, prompting Newell to begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Following the fourth set of CPR, Newell again attempted abdominal thrusts, this time successfully clearing the obstruction.
The victim regain consciousness and was placed in the recovery position until the Kaua‘i Fire Department and Emergency Medical Service arrived to assist — truly, a lifesaving effort.
The Red Cross is a non-profit humanitarian organization which provides assistance to meet the immediate emergency needs of those affected by disasters.
All Red Cross assistance to disaster victims is free. The Red Cross is not a government agency and depends on public contributions to help others.
Visit www.hawaiiredcross.org for more information.
∫ Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
