Caleb Hansen, a 14-year-old from Long Beach, was at the skate park in February 2024 when, unexpectedly, his friend fell from a bicycle and sustained a concussion — and serious facial injuries.

Without hesitation, Hansen immediately called 9-1-1 and spoke with Long Beach public safety dispatcher Tiffany Buccini.

Providing clear and calm information to Buccini, Hansen’s bravery, quick thinking and the care he showed in a moment of crisis helped first responders arrive quickly — and today, his friend is alive and well.

Hansen, along with three other kids from the greater Long Beach area, and local public safety dispatchers like Buccini, were presented with awards by the national organization 9-1-1 for Kids for their efforts to save lives. Honorees were recognized this week during the National Emergency Number Association conference at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center.

The organization presented the honorees with the 9-1-1 Heroes Medal of Honor, which is awarded to individuals who demonstrate exceptional courage by calling 9-1-1 to save a life, protect property or report a crime, according to a press release. The award also recognizes the dispatcher or call-taker who processes the call and dispatches the appropriate emergency response.

“Today, we come together to celebrate the incredible impact of 9-1-1,” Melanie Jones, president of the National Emergency Number Association, said during the Tuesday, June 24, ceremony. “Not just the professionals under the headset, but the young callers, who bravely and quickly think, help save lives.”

The other youth and dispatch heroes to be honored on Tuesday were Andrew Vincente, a 6-year-old from Long Beach, and Long Beach public safety dispatcher Maria Acosta; Abbey Nguyen, a 9-year-old from Westminster, and Westminster Police Department Communications Supervisor Kristen Kannard; and Zariah Walton, a 10-year-old from Lakewood, and Long Beach public safety dispatcher Jamie Martin-Burd.

Vicente called 9-1-1 when his mother became the victim of domestic spousal abuse. On May 22, he remained calm as he spoke with Acosta while the altercation could be heard in the background, according to a press release. Thanks to Vicente’s quick thinking and composure, emergency personnel responded swiftly and assisted his mother in a moment of critical need.

On April 4, Nguyen was at home when an unknown man broke into her home in Westminster by smashing through the living room window. Nguyen, who was upstairs at the time, didn’t panic – instead, she took immediate action and called 9-1-1. She calmly reported the break-in and spoke with Kannard. While Nguyen remained on the line, her father confronted the intruder and physically forced him out of the home. Her older sister provided police with a description of the suspect, and because of Nguyen’s quick thinking and calmness under pressure, and the teamwork within her family, no one was hurt that day, officials said.

Last year in April, Walton was at home playing video games when her mother had a medical emergency. Her mother was in full cardiac arrest, unconscious and not breathing. In that critical moment, Walton called 9-1-1 and spoke with Martin-Burd. In that difficult moment, Walton stayed composed and provided a clear location, allowing help to be dispatched quickly, Long Beach Fire Department Chief Dennis Buchanan said during the presentation.

At one point, the gravity of the situation overwhelmed Walton and she began to cry – but with calm reassurance from Martin-Burd, she found her strength again and stayed on the line until emergency responders arrived. Though her mother died, Walton’s bravery and clarity during an unimaginable crisis serve as a powerful example of resilience and love, Buchanan said.

“These stories remind us that heroism can come from anyone at any age and that every voice on the line matters,” Jones said. “Whether it’s a child calmly giving directions in a crisis or a dispatcher guiding someone through the scariest moment of their life, each act we honor today reflects the very best of what 9-1-1 stands for: courage, clarity and compassion.”

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