Volunteers vital in emergencies

      It was the most traumatic experience of Debra DaVee's life.
      On Sept. 11, 1989, the Pahrump resident was involved in an accident that would follow her forever when she ran over her 2-year-old niece and killed her.
      As part of her attempt to deal with the tragedy, DaVee has served as a volunteer for the Pahrump Fire/Rescue service for most of the past seven years.
      "I do it to try to make a difference," she said. "I couldn't save my niece, but I can try to save someone else."
      DaVee has made a difference during her time as a volunteer, saving three people on CPR calls and delivering three babies, in addition to her other duties as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).
      The other 74 volunteers at the Pahrump Fire/Rescue service may not have suffered through an ordeal like DaVee's, but each has a reason for giving so much of themselves in an effort to help others.
      Some firefighters watched their own homes go up in flames and now volunteer because they know what it's like to lose everything.
      "We can't change the bad things that happen to us, but we can make a difference in someone else's life," said longtime volunteer Pearl Dearborn.
      Dearborn, who has been giving her time in Pahrump for the past 10 years, became a foster child at age 14 when her parents lost custody because of child abuse.
      "All of us have a story," she said. "We've all survived a lot of stuff. I don't think I'm unique. (My foster mom) gave me the best education I could have. She straightened me out. This is my way of giving back -- by helping out people. We get to touch people's lives. In a sense, we do the same things my foster mother did for me. Š I just saw a need. (Volunteering) was a chance to give back to the community."
      Dearborn recalled the moment she knew being a volunteer was well worth the time and effort.
      "We transported a 92-year-old patient who had a heart attack," she said. "When we reached the hospital, she reached her hand up to touch my face and said, `Thank you.' I knew then that I did the right thing and I've been hooked ever since.
      "It doesn't have to do with money, glory or whatever. It has to do with touching another person's life, when you know you've made a difference. It's happened a thousand times since then and it's an incredible feeling."
      Dearborn, who has been named Pahrump EMT of the year, has delivered a dozen babies and revived five people on CPR calls, but that simple "Thank you" still stands out.
      "The 10 minutes of glory on a 911 call is wonderful -- you make changes on whether people live or die -- but it all comes back to that 92-year-old woman," Dearborn said. "She touched my face and I'll never forget that. It's probably the highlight of my career."