Antioch boy being honored by Red Cross for his heroics

Sue Johnson said her 5-year-old son Hunter Johnson was "in complete control" during a moment of chaos in their Antioch home last April.

Battling a high fever from the flu, Sue Johnson passed out and collapsed to the floor.

With his siblings at school and his dad at work, Hunter tried unsuccessfully to revive his mom and then calmly called 911. Paramedics arrived within minutes.

The little guy will be honored by the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago at an awards breakfast next month. He was one of at least 200 people nominated for the Youth Good Samaritan Award, Sue Johnson said.

She credits the safety lessons Hunter learned at the Camp Crayon preschool program held through the Antioch Park and Recreation Department.

"They really taught them the importance of knowing their phone number and address and how to call 911 in an emergency," she said.

Hunter, now 6 years old, handled the emergency in a manner far beyond his years.

"I was really sick and trembling. I asked Hunter to get me the thermometer and some Tylenol," Sue Hunter said. "He felt my forehead and said, 'Mom, you are really hot.' I turned to walk back to bed, got tunnel vision and passed out. The next thing I remember was hearing the chatter of walkie-talkies and seeing the paramedics looking down on me."

Sue Johnson learned later that Hunter did more than just call the paramedics.

"He tried to give me water. When that didn't work, he called 911," she explained. "While waiting for the paramedics, he made sure the dog was put away. Once the rescue crews arrived, he told them names of his brother and sister and the names of their schools. He really took matters into his own hands. He really came through."