By Emileigh Ard, as published by the Northwest County Journal and the Overland-St. Ann Journal .

Six "everyday" people recently received the Red Cross Lifesaver Award, including a girl from Florissant whose actions helped saved her father.

Kimberly Boyd, 13, was up early one morning when she heard her father call for her. When she found him, Kimberly saw that he was having a severe asthma attack and had collapsed on the floor.

After calling 911, Boyd began CPR. She continued her cycles for about five minutes until paramedics arrived.

"I would have died," said her father, Larry Boyd.

Kimberly admitted she was scared but is glad she knew what to do to help her father.

The Red Cross recognized people who utilized their skills in CPR, first aid and the use of external defibrillators at a ceremony July 23.

Also honored were Overland police officers Brian Foster and James Kalinich.

Foster and Kalinich earned the award for an incident on the morning of March 20, when they were dispatched to a one-car accident. When they arrived at the scene, they found the car at the bottom of a 50-foot incline. The car had crashed through a fence and into a building. The driver, who had managed to get out of the vehicle, was having a severe seizure.

"Jim did the chest compressions; he is the real hero," Foster said. "He was actually supposed to be off for his birthday but was dispatched (to the scene)."

Within a few minutes of the officers' arrival, the car caught on fire. The officers quickly removed the injured man from the scene.

Because of their quick action and skills, the two were able to help the victim until the paramedics arrived. The man made a full recovery.

After the ceremony, the two officers said they admired the actions of the other award recipients. They downplayed their own actions, saying it was part of their job.

"That is huge," said Foster, talking about Kimberly's actions.