The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

5-year-old boy who helped save mom named an honorary firefighter

Seth Pabst called 911 when his mother suffered a seizure

Seth Pabst, 5, called 911 from a cell phone when his mother, Jessica Cutlip (right) suffered a seizure. City of Fairfield dispatcher Erica Scott (left) asked Pabst questions to determine their address. Pabst was honored by Fairfield safety personnel for his

Contributed photo Seth Pabst, 5, called 911 from a cell phone when his mother, Jessica Cutlip (right) suffered a seizure. City of Fairfield dispatcher Erica Scott (left) asked Pabst questions to determine their address. Pabst was honored by Fairfield safety personnel for his "quick thinking, bravery and calmness."

ENLARGE PHOTO

Road closing for railroad repairs
New 15 min. ago
Caesar Creek Lake boater falls overboard, medics attempting rescue
Updated 19 min. ago
Beach Waterpark sued by Ohio Attorney General's Office for failure to deliver
11:34 a.m.
Worker falls 20 feet from utility pole
11:14 a.m.
Out-of-state shoppers arrested in clothing theft
10:14 a.m.
> More headlines

By Kelsey Cano, Staff Writer Updated 11:59 AM Wednesday, April 13, 2011

FAIRFIELD — The Fairfield Fire Department has some small boots to fill.

Seth Pabst, 5, has been named an honorary firefighter and is being praised for calling 911 on April 5 after his mother suffered a seizure.

Pabst dialed 911 on a cell phone and told the dispatcher his mom had passed out. But unaware of their address, getting help for his mom wasn’t simple.

“Because of the cell phone, we didn’t know the address,” said acting fire Chief Jeff Kenworthy.

While Pabst knew the street he lived on, he didn’t know the house number. City of Fairfield dispatcher Erica Scott stayed on the line with Pabst, asking him to look for mail, and ultimately led him outside and had him read the house number.

“I’ve been on the department for 21 years. I’ve been trying to get these guys (firefighters) to be as brave and courageous as you,” acting Fire Chief Jeff Kenworthy told Pabst during a recognition ceremony Monday evening.

Responding crews found his mother, Cutlip, bleeding from the mouth, confused and disoriented. She was taken to Bethseda North Hospital and released that evening. Cutlip admitted she doesn’t know what would have happened if help hadn’t arrived.

“I really would rather not know,” she said. “We were home by ourselves, so who knows what would have happened.”

For his “quick thinking, bravery and calmness,” Pabst was named an honorary firefighter by Kenworthy. He was given a firefighter’s helmet, a police badge and patch by police Chief Mike Dickey. he also received a plaque from Mayor Ron D’Epifanio with a certificate of recognition “for assisting his mother in a grown-up manner.”

Pabst is aware of what he did, telling his mom, “sending mommy to the doctor means getting your mommy back.”

Having his mom isn’t the only reward Pabst is happy about. He greatly loves the helmet.

“He wore it to bed last night,” Cutlip said. “He has on his police badge right now.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 483-5237 or kcano@coxohio.com.