(UPDATED @ 11:03 p.m.): Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019, is now forever "Levi Dalton Day" in the city of Xenia to honor the city firefighter/paramedic for saving the life of a neighbor's 17-month-old daughter three weeks ago.
Dalton was returning home Feb. 8 and found his neighbor carrying his lifeless infant from his home after calling 9-1-1, according to the proclamation designating the special day for the firefighter.
Dalton performed CPR on Harper.
Warren County Sheriff's Deputy Andrew Grossenbaugh, who was in the neighborhood, responded to the 9-1-1 call. He and Dalton decided to take the child to Atrium Medical Center in Middletown when the deputy became concerned a medic unit would not arrive in enough time to save her life.
Once they all arrived at the medical center, doctors assessed Harper and had her flown to Cincinnati Children's Hospital for further treatment.
Harper's mother said the hospital released her daughter 24 hours after the accident and she is expected to make a full recovery, according to the proclamation, which also read, "the team of doctors at Cincinnati Children's Hospital have credited Firefighter Dalton and Officer Grossenbaugh for their heroic efforts to save her life."
Thursday night, Dalton received a standing ovation after the proclamation was read aloud during the city council meeting.
In the crowd were Harper and her parents.
“These people were put in the right place at the right time,” Maggie, Harper’s mom, told WHIO-TV’s Sean Cudahy, recounting how Harper nearly hanged herself while reaching for an electronic device that was behind a couch. Harper’s brother found her and yelled for their father, Mom said.
Dalton also was given the Charles Beason Award of Valor by the Xenia Fire Division. Dalton becomes the inaugural recipient of the fire division award, named after retired Chief Charles Beason. He was instrumental in bringing the first paramedics to the fire division in the 1970s.