Wireless Industry Recognizes Wireless Samaritans
June 2, 2008
9 Citizens Honored for Using Wireless Technology to Save Lives, Fight Crime
WASHINGTON, DC – Every day, more than 290,000 calls are placed to 911 from wireless phones. These “eyewitness” calls report car accidents, health emergencies, street crimes, drunk driving, domestic violence and other dangerous situations that threaten human life or safety.
The wireless industry recognizes the efforts of such individuals who illustrate the importance of putting safety first and who have used wireless technology in extraordinary circumstances. Tonight, at the 14th Annual Achievement Awards Dinner, which will be held at the historic Union Station, The Wireless Foundation will honor many of these individuals by recognizing them as VITA™ Wireless Samaritans.
“The 2008 VITA™ honorees exemplify how wireless phones can save lives and fight crime. On behalf of the wireless industry, I salute these outstanding individuals for their help in making a safer and stronger America,” said Steve Largent, President of The Wireless Foundation and President and CEO of CITA-The Wireless Association®. “With more than 250 million wireless subscribers in America – more than 80% of the entire population - emergencies can be reported as they happen, enabling first responders to take immediate, life-saving action.”
The 2008 VITA™ Wireless Samaritan Award Honorees include:
Commissioner Ed Davis from Boston, MA, and the Boston Police Department (BPD) launched an innovative program in 2007 called “Text-a-Tip” to facilitate cooperation with the BPD’s Crime Stoppers Mobile investigations program and help the city combat a sharp rise in crime. By texting “TIP” to short code CRIME (27463), wireless customers in the Boston area can engage police in a two-way dialog while maintaining their anonymity.
PFC Peter Facazio from Culpeper, VA, dialed 911 on his cellular phone and gave dispatchers the vehicle’s plate number and location of a drunk driver he was following on the road. A child was in the car, and he and his wife, who was injured in the process, pulled over to assist the driver.
Ryan Price from Swanton, OH, cut his hunting shirt to form a tourniquet to stop the profuse bleeding and then used his cell phone to call 911 to save the life of a man who had cut himself while trying to dress a deer.
Nick Francis from Apple Valley, MN, saved the life of his neighbor while, after calling 911 on his wireless phone, he grabbed his neighbor who was on fire and pulled him to the ground to pat out the flames.
Claudio Veras from Newnan, GA, pursued a carjacker who had a woman at gun point and dialed 911 from his cell phone to alert the police. When the suspect saw Mr. Veras on the phone in the rearview mirror, he jumped from the car and ran. Mr. Veras stayed with the woman, who told him that the suspect had threatened to kill her.
Leroy & Bernice Krittenbrink from Kingfisher, OK, were swept away when flood water crashed into the side of their pickup truck. Knowing they were in serious trouble as neither one knew how to swim, Bernice called 911 from her wireless phone to save their lives.
Lauren Durnbaugh from Canal Winchester, OH, was home sick from school when two people entered the house through an unlocked door. She hid under the covers of her bed and silently sent her mom a text message alerting her to the burglars. Lauren’s mother raced home dialed 911 en route. The two were arrested and charged with burglary.
Sgt. Shawn Dunafin from Kendallville, IN, called a missing man’s cellular carrier and pinpointed the car’s location after police realized that men were missing in a car crash and began their search. Police were, however, able to rescue the boy who had endured a night of single digit temperatures from the crash.
Tianna Sullivan from Osage, IA, was driving home when she came across an 88-year-old woman in the road. The woman was only wearing a hospital gown with the wind chill factor was 25 degrees below zero. Before getting out of her car to help, Ms. Sullivan called 911 on her cell phone, and police came to escort her back to the hospital.
The Achievement Awards Dinner brings together wireless industry leaders, Members of Congress and key policymakers to highlight the contributions wireless technology makes to American communities.
Other program elements featured at the dinner event will include:
- Presentation of Wireless Achievement Award to Congressman Bart Gordon (D, TN-6) and Congressman John Shimkus (R, IL-19).
- Recognition of Get Wise About Wireless script writing contest winner, 8th grader Justine Abbott from Sonora, California.
- Presentation of 2008 Amy Zoslov Scholarship to Case Western Reserve University Law Student Kari White.
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The Wireless Foundation is a non-profit organization that was formed by member companies of CTIA-The Wireless Association® in 1991. The Foundation oversees a number of programs designed to put
wireless technology to work addressing the challenges of society.
www.wirelessfoundation.org