When 7-year-old Jake Hodges rides along in a car with his grandmother past his neighbor’s house on Avalon, he usually waves at the friendly gentleman.
On June 26 around 2:12 p.m.on their way to Depot Park, Jake spotted his 72-year-old neighbor lying on the ground after he fall from a ladder.
‘I was like Nanna, (the neighbor) is lying on the ground,? said Jake, who called the incident sad, admitting he was kind of scared. ‘His glasses flew so far they were under his car.?
Jake was riding along with his grandmother Virginia Moultrup and his six-year-old sister Peyton when he spotted the man. The kids left the car and ran over to the neighbor while Moultrup alerted the man’s wife who called 911.
‘I was so proud. It was awesome,? said mother Margaret Hodges. ‘At their school, Bailey Lake Elementary, they give out paws for good behavior. His sister received two this year and he did not. So I told him this is like a million paws.?
‘He did a real good job of it,? said EMS Coordinator Bob Cesario of the Independence Township Fire Department. ‘Most people start teaching their kids when they start understanding what a phone is. One of the first things we teach them is about 911 and what an emergency is.?
Margaret explained she’s made a point of showing both her kids the importance of 911 and emergency situations.
‘They know exactly what 911 is and it’s not a toy and only for when someone is hurt and it’s an emergency,? said Margaret.
According to police reports, the man, who asked not to be identified, fell from about 10 feet as he cleaned the gutters on his house. He suffered injuries to the back of his head and bumps and bruises to his shoulder and back area.
‘Once we got there, we assessed him further and determined that his injuries weren’t serious and that we could take him to the hospital and tend to him there,? said Cesario.
The incident drew attention from neighbors and media alike. One set of neighbors sent Jake $10 and a card saying what a good thing he did.
‘I’ll put it in my bank account,? said Jake, who also explained Disney World might be a good use of the money.
The Hodges also were visited by a camera crew from an area TV station who interviewed Jake about the event.
‘For the first few minutes he just said ‘yes? and ‘no,? but then he warmed up,? said Margaret.
The Independence Township Fire Department transported the man to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital for treatment. The man was back at home recovering from the incident two days after the incident.