Visit respondingwell.blogspot.com for more heroes!

I started this blog to give a shout-out to the many selfless heroes that come out of nowhere to help others, but the title was kind of scary, so I moved the effort to the blog at the link below.  Please stop in there to visit!

http://respondingwell.blogspot.com/

MOVED TO A NEW URL!!

As many of you noticed, the URL for this blog was a little scary.  It is a bit daunting to click on a URL that says "getyoukilled".  To correct that problem and avoid frightening off potential viewers, I have moved the blog content to another URL:

http://respondingwell.blogspot.com

It may take a little while to regain momentum, but if you have enjoyed the blog in the past, please change your link to the new one, and tell your friends about it!

Thanks for getting involved, and be careful out there!

mark d

Ballonist Ed Restaino Sacrifices Himself to Save Skydivers

This is a tough one, because unless you are a pilot you can't really appreciate what this guy did.  He was sucked into a thunderstorm largely because he let his skydivers leave before it was too late.  Forecasting thunderstorms is an art, not a science.  He couldn't know in advance that this would happen, only that it "might".  When the updraft began pulling them into the cloud, keeping their weight on the balloon may have saved his life, but it would have put the skydivers at increased risk.  He chose to let them jump, knowing that there would be no way to save his own life with that much ballast gone.  What a guy!

http://www.mysouthwestga.com/news/story.aspx?id=731945

Kristyn Dominy Pulls Woman and Child From Burning Car

Ms. Dominy is now my hero.  The article at the link below is very short, but if I read it correctly, she had ample reason to just drive by the victims and let someone else worry about it.  But like so many rescuers, Ms. Dominy found that she simply could not just drive on by and let them suffer.  Two people are alive, thanks to her.  Way to go!

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/transportation/cars/video-kristyn-dominy-rescues-driver-who-gave-her-finger

Kevin Pratt Dives Into 40-Degree Water to Save a Stranger

When a larger man got into trouble during an attempt to swim across the Willamette River, Mr. Pratt took a risky plunge.  The man was taken to the hospital with no pulse, but was later revived.  If Pratt had not gone out to help, the ending would probably not have been so positive.

http://www.katu.com/news/local/Witness-jumps-into-Willamette-to-help-drowning-man-141375733.html?tab=video&c=y

Robert George Dives Into Icy Water to save a Youngster

Four kids had fallen through the ice.  Three were able to struggle free with help from bystanders, but the fourth wasn't going to make it if Mr. George hadn't taken on the task of going into the water after the boy.  Everyone made it home!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/29/father-saves-kids-from-frozen-lake-robert-george_n_1310544.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003

Fiji Schoolgirl Rescues Friend From Burning Levuka Dorm

It's not clear just how old these public school kids were, but one young lady had just the skills required to help another make it out safely.

http://www.fijivillage.com/?mod=story&id=23021233e73284a6d8f95c193f7afc