FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE/May 6, 1996

American Red Cross and American Nurses Association Recognize Ten National Nurse Heroes

Washington, D.C., May 6, 1996 -- The American Red Cross and the American Nurses Association (ANA) today kicked off National Nurses Week (May 6-12) by announcing the recipients of the first "Nurse Hero" awards at a recognition ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Local Washington, D.C. television anchor Paul Berry joined Acting Red Cross President Gene Dyson and ANA President Virginia Trotter Betts, JD, MSN, RN, to pay tribute to ten nurses from around the country for going far above and beyond the call of duty to assist individuals in life-threatening situations. The heroes selected to receive this honor included:

• Rebecca Needham Anderson, a licensed practical nurse who lost her own life helping others in need. While assisting those injured at the Oklahoma City bombing, she was struck on the head by concrete from the collapsing building and died five days later. Her husband, Fred Anderson, is accepting the award on Rebecca's behalf.
• Gail Brundage, a registered nurse in Florida who stopped a rolling car from hitting a truck, pulled an unconscious man out of the vehicle, and administered CPR, saving his life.
• Michele Sigur Cruice, a registered nurse in Louisiana who leapt over three church pews to come to the aid of a 10-year-old boy who was choking on a quarter he had accidentally swallowed.
• Captain Marion L. Duncan, a registered nurse who risked his own life to assist a surgeon with an emergency leg amputation of a woman trapped under the bombed Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
• Helen Getchell, a registered nurse in Illinois who, as one of the first on the scene of a collision between a school bus and a train, provided emergency assistance to many injured children, including clearing a young boy's airway using a turkey baster from a local store. Tragically, the boy's injuries were so severe he later died in her arms.
• Brenda Hommerding, a registered nurse in Minnesota who, without regard for her own safety, provided emergency assistance to a police officer with a gunshot wound lying on the center line of a busy four-lane highway.
• Susan Thorstad Hugus, a registered nurse in Indiana who was tragically killed by a falling utility pole while attempting to assist the victims of an automobile accident. Julie A. Hugus will accept the award on her mother's behalf.
• Amy Reid, a registered nurse in North Carolina who, while five months pregnant, pulled a seriously injured man twice her size out of a burning vehicle to safety.
• Gwen Austin and Fredia Hawkins-Winston, two licensed practical nurses in Tennessee who, with chaos surrounding them, came to the aid of a 14-year-old boy shot in the hallway of his junior high school. The nurses also remained at the school after the incident to offer counseling to the other students and teachers.

"We are extremely proud to salute the heroic actions of these ten nurses -- trained professionals whose selflessness and desire to help others led them to do extraordinary things. Their commitment to the nursing profession is an inspiration to us all," said Dyson.

"On behalf of the nursing profession, I commend these ten 'Nurse Heroes' for their exceptional acts of valor. As we mark National Nurse Recognition Day, I wish to pay tribute to all of the nation's nurses, who perform acts of heroism every day in their efforts to provide the best care possible. This is the time for all Americans to acknowledge the indispensability of nurses nationwide," said Betts.

Throughout American history, nurses, widely regarded for their compassion and professional commitment, have always responded during times of need. The National Nurse Recognition Day Awards Ceremony is designed to salute the dedication of these ten individuals to the nursing profession. There are currently 2.2 million registered nurses and 962,000 licensed practical nurses in the nation, many of whom perform lifesaving acts every day.

A nationwide search was launched earlier this year to identify nurse heroes from across the country. Nominees were required to meet specific criteria, including submission of two letters of endorsement and validation for each nomination. The ten award recipients were selected from more than 120 nominations received.

The "Nurse Hero" awards event was made possible due to generous donations from Boston Properties, Inc., Telesec Staffing Services, and the U.S. Postal Service Federal Credit Union.

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