By By ERIN VER BERKMOES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Not many 11-year-olds would have the composure and knowledge to respond quickly in an emergency situation, but Dylan Brattain of Niles did know what to do.
On Wednesday, at 3 a.m., Dylan awoke to his great-grandmother, Carmella Dalenberg, 77, calling his name because she had fallen and cut her head. Dalenberg usually wears her Lifeline device so she can call for help in a situation such as this, but had left it on her nightstand when she got up out of bed.
Dylan then got a towel for her and helped her to apply preassure to the wound, to help stop the bleeding. He also told her not to move her head or neck and used her Lifeline to call for help.
Dylan learned what to do in an emergency situation just as the one with his great-grandmother from his mother Tina Bunch, who is a paramedic with Life Care ambulance service in Cassopolis and his step-father Tim Bunch, who is a full time firefighter with the Niles Township Fire Department.
Dalenberg was deputy treasurer for Niles Township for many years and was also a volunteer rescue officer.
Dylan, who is going be a sixth grader at Southside when school goes back into session in just a few short weeks, has written essays in school talking about how his great-grandmother is his hero.
Dylan who enjoys spending time with his great-grandmother sewing, crocheting and doing other fun activities, also enjoys playing basketball and baseball, is wavering between becoming a firefighter or a paramedic when he is older.
To make Dalenburg's home safer and to maybe prevent an incident like this from happening, Tim and Dylan are installing hand rails around the home.