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Austin Fields, left, a kindergarten student at Jana Elementary School, received a Do the Right Thing Award for calling 9-1-1 for his grandmother, Debra Fields, right. Here, the two enjoyed some quality time during Grandparents’ Day at the school in September.

Austin Fields, a kindergarten student at Jana Elementary School in the Hazelwood School District, received a “Do the Right Thing” Award earlier this month. Fields was honored for getting medical aid for his grandmother, or mee-mom, Debra Fields. Fields fell ill and collapsed while she was watching her grandson.

“She passed out and I called 9-1-1,” Fields said. “I told them mee-mom was sick on the floor and she will not wake up.”

Austin was calm during the phone call and able to provide paramedics with enough information to get help for his mee-mom. He even opened the front door for the ambulance crew prior to their arrival. “I was not scared,” he said.

“Austin tried to call me while I was out for the evening to tell me what happened to his mee-mom but when he couldn’t reach me, he called 9-1-1,” his mother, Jamie Fields, recalled. “Kids are constantly learning and picking up new things. They learn from our verbal and non-verbal communication.

“I am very, very proud that he used 9-1-1 the way it is supposed to be used and he was able to articulate what was going on. He was able to give the police officers and EMS crew my cell phone number. We started telling him about 9-1-1 last summer,” she said.

Austin and several other children from around the metropolitan area who were nominated for their good deeds received their honors at the St. Louis County Council Chambers in Clayton. Each month, four judges read nominations and select a group of at least 10 students, who are then invited to the monthly formal ceremony. These students receive packets containing a certificate, a T-shirt, a $50 U.S. Savings Bond, a calculator, McDonald’s food coupons and various other items.

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