Rob Davison is a hero.

Although it’s part of his job as a deputy for the Island County Sheriff’s Office to sometimes perform lifesaving acts, Davison acted even more heroically last July when he saved a toddler’s life.

He will be honored for his heroism by the Island County Chapter of the American Red Cross.

The chapter annually makes awards to local individuals for outstanding community efforts. Davsion was selected as the 2002 hero in the law enforcement category. He and six other individuals will be honored at the Heroes Breakfast on March 5 at the Elks Lodge in Oak Harbor.

It was July 24, 2001 when Davison observed two small girls sitting by the edge of the road with no adults in sight. He thought this was unusual, so he investigated and found a 4-year-old and a 1-year-old, still in diapers, playing in gravel. According to Davison, the baby was covered with “white stuff,” which was later determined to be skin cream.

As he held the baby in his arms, she became sick, throwing up on his shoulder. According to sheriff’s reports the girl went limp and started to turn blue. Her teeth were clenched making it difficult to open her mouth.

Davison, a trained Navy helicopter crewman, knew what to do. As he looked down the baby’s throat he observed a glob of stuff behind the tongue sealing her airway. He gently reached in with his finger, scooping out a wad of skin cream mixed with grass and gravel.

The baby still wasn’t breathing so he performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. She began to breathe and survived.

Davison was nominated by Island County Sgt. Rick Norrie. In the nomination he wrote for Davison, Norrie said “Without Davison’s presence, wisdom and care, a breath of life could not have been given. Those who come in contact with Davison know him as a dedicated professional and a hero that would go beyond the ends of the earth for any man woman or child.”

Other local heroes to be honored are are Digger O’Dell in the Humanitarian category, Linda Wernke and Julie Swanson as Adult Good Samaritan, Jacki Matteson as Youth Good Samaritan, and Navy Chief Randy Contreas and Petty Officer Jayson Danzinger for Military hero awards.