Knocking Down Myths
Facing a Gas Leak, She Thought Fast Schnautzie Saves the Day
March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, and at Dickerson Oxton Law, we see clients who suffer brain injuries from accidents or malpractice. However, there are many misconceptions surrounding brain injuries, and these myths can lead people to put off seeking the proper The 3 Most Commo
help they need. So, in observance of Brain Injury Awareness Month, we want to bust the most common brain injury myths we see. MYTH NO. 1: YOU MUST HIT YOUR HEAD TO HAVE A BRAIN INJURY. When people think of a brain injury, they often imagine a dangerous accident where something hard collides with or strikes someone’s head. This common belief is false! You can have a significant concussion any time your brain hits the inside of your skull, even if it’s just by your head moving too rapidly forward or backward. So in the case of a car crash, you don’t need to slam your head against something to have a brain injury. Moving quickly and coming to an abrupt stop can cause your brain to hit the inside of your skull, resulting in damage. Celebrate St. Patric WESTPORT ST. PATRICK’S If you want to get some movement in before chowing down on corned beef and cabbage this month, consider attending the Westport St. Patrick’s Day Run! At 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 11, bagpipes will sound to start the race, flooding the streets with runners in green! And the best part is the run is an excellent activity for the whole family. At 9:45 a.m., the Little Leprechaun Kids Run begins for children ages 12 and under. Strollers are welcome during all races, too, so even kiddos who can’t yet walk are able to participate.
Besides a fire, a gas leak is one of the worst things that can happen in the middle of the night. Fortunately for one Montana couple in 2007, Schnautzie the cat was on the case. She woke up her owners to alert them to the danger, preventing a deadly — and explosive — tragedy. People magazine reported that Greg and Trudy Guy adopted Schnautzie from a local pet store in April 2007. They’d gone with hopes of adopting a puppy but instead fell in love with a tiny black kitten. The couple only intended to foster Schnautzie, but she proved herself a hero and became a permanent family member. That October, Schnautzie climbed up on Trudy’s chest at 2 a.m. and started pawing at her nose. Since cats sometimes do strange (and annoying) things, Trudy didn’t think too much of it — until Schnautzie kept at it. Now, Schnautzie had her attention, especially when Trudy noticed her persistently sniffing the air around her. Once fully awake, Trudy noticed a hissing sound somewhere in the house. Getting up to investigate, she found a broken pipe outside her bathroom, pumping gas into the basement. “The gas was just fuming,” Trudy remembered. “Our house was saturated in a short time.” The Guys quickly vacated the house with Schnautzie in tow and called the fire department. Only upon the rescue workers’ arrival did the Guys realize the extent of the danger they had faced. While the gas alone could have killed them, it was also an unseasonably frigid night in October. Had the heater or water tank turned on, it would have ignited the fumes and caused an explosion. Schnautzie was a hero to the Guys, but extra treats and a permanent home were thanks enough for her. Still, she received a bit more than that in 2010. The Great Falls Animal Foundation learned how Schnautzie had saved the day and decided to honor her with the Purple Paw Award. While Schnautzie appreciated the thought, Greg said she didn’t enjoy the reception. “She’s shy around strangers,” he explained. But there’s no doubt that Schnautzie deserved her award. Sally Cerny of the animal foundation told Catster.com that the Purple Paw is given to pets who uniquely demonstrate the bond between animals and humans. And, she concluded, “There’s no more special way to show that than to save your family.”
Then, at 10 a.m. on the dot, the “elite” runners, or runners with a 7:30 mile or faster, will start. At 10:01, all other participants will begin!
Costumes and festive attire are encouraged, and the greener, the better! Before the race, participants will come together to sing
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