WOODLAND, Maine — Landan Albair exercised immense initiative and courage when he assisted a woman suffering from what appeared to be a seizure last year in a Caribou store.
Instead of panicking or fleeing, he tried to help the woman, and when he realized she needed medical attention, he immediately alerted an employee of the store, who then called 911. Rescue personnel then arrived to take care of the her.
Landan, now 11, was only 10 when he helped the woman, and later that day his mother told the rest of the family about her son’s heroism at a family barbeque. This inspired his great aunt, Penny Wickstrom, to submit the story to the Red Cross Real Heroes program.
During a March 15 assembly at Woodland Consolidated School, Aroostook County Red Cross Community Manager Mary Green shakes Landan Albair’s hand after presenting him with a medal for coming to the aid of a woman apparently suffering a seizure last summer. (Christopher Bouchard)
“I just wanted everybody to know that we are so proud of him,” said Wickstrom. I think, in today’s world, everyone should know that there are still good people out there and that someone his age had the ability to know how to act. Some children could have just cowered away, some adults might not even have known what to do, but he just jumped into action and helped out.”
Wickstrom submitted Landon’s real hero story without his knowledge, which resulted in a pleasant surprise for the young boy and his family.
Aroostook County Red Cross Community Manager Mary Green said Landan was “shocked and surprised, but also really excited” to learn he’d won the 2018 Young Real Heroes Award.
While the standard procedure for Red Cross Real Hero recognition is to honor everyone during an annual breakfast in May, Green thought it would be better to hold a March 15 assembly at Landan’s school in Woodland, as his actions could inspire other students.
Landan’s day began with a ride to school in a police cruiser. Officer Eric Depner of the Caribou PD picked up the boy, showed him around the police vehicle, taught him how to turn on the sirens, and even gave him a lesson in how to place handcuffs on someone.
“They picked me up at my house showed me everything in the car,” Landan said, “and brought me to school and showed me how to turn on the sirens.”
Woodland Consolidated School Principal Susie Schloeman said she fully supported Green’s idea to hold an assembly at the school, adding that Landan was “very noble” and “deserved recognition” for his actions.
During the assembly, Green told students about Landon’s good deed and presented him with a medal and bag of goodies. Officer Depner also gave him a pin for his heroism.
Landan’s father, Lance Albiar, said he was “extremely proud” of his son.
“I’m not necessarily surprised that he did something like that,” said Lance. “We always teach him to take care of people and do the right thing, but he’s usually very shy, reserved, and quiet. To hear that he took action both shocked me and made me proud that he would do that as a 10-year-old.”
Landan Albair, 11, of Woodland was treated to a ride to school courtesy of the Caribou Police Department on March 15 for assisting a woman who appeared to be having a seizure last summer. Here Officer Eric Depner and Albair stand outside the cruiser as students get ready for school on Thursday. (Christopher Bouchard)
Wickstrom said selflessness runs in the family, as Landan’s grandmother was honored at a Red Cross Real Heroes breakfast two years ago for performing “CPR on a gentleman at a local business.”
“He’s got some real role models with his parents and grandparents,” she said.
“I’m just really happy I could help the lady,” said Landan, “and really happy we were able to have assembly today.”
Green said she hopes to continue honoring young heroes with assemblies at their schools, and that many more local heroes will be honored during the Red Cross Real Heroes Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. on May 18 at the Presque Isle Inn and Convention Center.
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- Officer Eric Depner of the Caribou PD shows 11-year-old Landan Albair how to use handcuffs after giving him a ride to Woodland Consolidated School on March 15, one of Albair’s many rewards for helping a woman apparently suffering from a seizure last summer. (Christopher Bouchard)
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- Landan Albair, 11, second from left, was honored for his heroism by the Red Cross during a March 15 assembly at Woodland Consolidated School. Here, he can be seen standing with his proud family in the school gymnasium after the assembly — brother Ethan Albair, mother Lori Albiar, and father Lance Albair. (Christopher Bouchard)
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- Children gather in the Woodland Consolidated School gymnasium on March 15 to honor fellow student Landan Albair. (Christopher Bouchard)
