The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Burton teen honored by Red Cross for rescue
Burton teen honored by Red Cross after she and her dog saved grandmother
Elise Kilmer of Burton paid attention when her dog let her know something was wrong and ran to the rescue.
Sixteen-year-old Elise Kilmer of Burton was in her room with her labradoodle Saige last November, when suddenly, Saige began to bark.
Saige began to scratch at the door, and her barking became louder.
When Elise opened her door, the dog bounded down the stairs to the kitchen. Elise followed and found her grandmother lying on the floor unresponsive.
Elise is a lifeguard at the Geauga Family YMCA and she recalled her American Red Cross training. First, she called 9-1-1. Then, she checked for a pulse and began performing CPR, continuing until medical personnel arrived.
Elise credits Saige for alerting her, which gave her ample time to help her grandmother.
“If I wasn’t able to get down there in time, who knows what could have happened,” she said.
Now, the American Red Cross of Northeast Ohio’s Greater Cleveland Chapter will honor Elise and nine other area heroes for their extraordinary courage that improved or saved the lives of others.
These heroes will be recognized at the Greater Cleveland Hero Awards breakfast. The event will be held March 12 at the Global Center for Health Innovation in Cleveland.
Elise’s CPR training is a requirement for all lifeguards, and she has been certified twice by them.
“That provided me with the background to help save my grandma,” she said.
Saige came into her life after Elise was able to save enough money to rescue her from a puppy mill. But it wasn’t easy at first for Saige to adjust to her new environment.
“She was really scared when we got her, but she has a good home now.”
Elise went on to talk about how, after getting over that hurdle, they began to bond — playing and sleeping together and sharing a deep love.
“She sleeps in my room every night, and we spend a lot of time together,” she said
Elise is a junior at Berkshire High School, taking College Credit Plus classes at Kent State University Geauga Campus. She is also involved in various activities in her school, including 4-H.
In her spare time, Elise enjoys training animals and doing competitions with horses.
While she only has one horse she trains, she has been riding them since the age of 5. She plans to continue her work with animals and hopes to attend Ohio State University for the Equine Program after graduation.
“If I wasn’t able to get down there in time, who knows what could have happened.”
— Elise Kilmer, 16, Burton