Local boys honored for calling 911, saving a life

BARSTOW • Two young Barstow boys were honored recently for acting quickly during an emergency and dialing 911 when their great-grandmother had a heart attack in December 2009.

Joseph Vanek, 6, and Jeremiah Vanek, 5, are credited with saving the life of their great-grandmother, Delores Garrett, who was looking after the boys when she collapsed.

The mother of the boys, Katie Palmer, said that her sons received 911 training at school that was reinforced at home.

“(The boys) had a little booklet about 911 that they brought home from school,” said Palmer. “They climbed on top of some bags of dog food to reach the phone.”

The boys also flagged down a passing motorist immediately after calling 911 and directed them to their unconscious great-grandmother. Garrett was treated and stabilized at Barstow Community Hospital.

Unfortunately, Garrett died from a subsequent heart attack in January.

“After (Garrett) passed the boys didn’t think they were heroes,” said Palmer. “But we got to spend another week with Auntie and she got to come home for two days.”

The boys were later honored March 3rd at the Henderson School and presented with gifts and $50 gift certificates to Straw Hat Pizza. Barstow Police officer Tim Heiden, who responded to the scene in December, presented the boys with certificates of commendation for “quick thinking and actions during a critical situation” and honorary badges.

Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4126 or adome@desertdispatch.com