Local Man Wins Red Cross 'Real Heroes' Award

The American Red Cross has named 10 people who saved lives Real Heroes, the San Diego-Imperial Counties Chapter announced Wednesday.

Among them is Construction Mechanic First Class Ronald White of Imperial Beach, who saved a fellow sailor from choking.

According to the Red Cross:

In June, Construction Mechanic First Class Ronald White was aboard the USS Pelileu in the ship’s galley eating dinner when he noticed a Staff Sergeant at his table was showing signs of choking. White asked him if he was okay and the gentlemen responded, "I am ok." White continued to monitor the situation and within a couple minutes the gentleman was unable to cough and gave the international sign of choking with both hands across his neck. White quickly sprang into action using the Heimlich maneuver to assist the Staff Sergeant and was able to successfully dislodge the obstruction. 

Award winners will be recognized at the Real Heroes Awards breakfast later this month.

Other award winners include a man who saved people from drowning in a flood channel, a Carlsbad woman who trained a dog to be a search and rescue lifeguard and a San Diego Police Department officer who saved car accident victims from a burning vehicle.