In July, a 32-year-old plumber became a lifesaver when he rescued a 4-year-old girl from drowning. Angelo Mondragon was wading through waist-deep water in a Colorado lake when he felt something bump into his leg.
As he kicked the object, tiny toes floated to the surface. Mondragon, who was vacationing with his family, pulled the child from the water and, along with two off-duty nurses, began to administer CPR.
The child had wandered away from her family and wasn’t wearing a flotation device. She was rushed to a hospital where she recovered.
The incident inspired Mondragon to collect life vests and flotation devices for families who can’t afford them.
For his actions, Mondragon has been called a hero, but he’s not alone.
Plumber saves elderly woman
In Tulsa, this summer, an elderly woman called a plumber. Upon his arrival, she began to feel faint. The Roto-Rooter employee helped her to a chair, called an ambulance and promised to stay until help arrived.
Rushed to the hospital, the woman was placed on a ventilator. Three days later she regained consciousness. She had had a stroke. In August, Billye Hogeland of Owasso celebrated her 83rd birthday, thanks to Eric, her hero.
Stories of plumbers performing heroic acts are not uncommon.
Plumbers play key role in public health
In fact, some in our industry say plumbers save more lives than doctors. In reality, disease control is a joint effort: Plumbers, doctors, health officials, water utilities, inspectors, engineers and manufacturers all play a role in public health.
We should all be thankful for running water, a working toilet and the everyday heroes who keep us safe from disease.
Not all are as fortunate. Inadequate sanitation is estimated to cause 260,000 deaths each year. Today, 783 million people around the world lack clean water to drink. According to the World Health Organization, at least 2.4 billion people don’t have access to a toilet or covered latrine.
Plumbers save lives every day.
