Child called hero for helping mom

FORT WAYNE, Ind., Feb. 2 (UPI) -- A 4-year-old Fort Wayne, Ind., boy who sought help for his unconscious mother has received the city's first Kid Hero award.

At the ceremony, Alex Hayes got to meet the mayor, the police chief, the fire chief and Manda Overly, the 911 dispatcher who last month took his call, The Fort Wayne (Ind.) News Sentinel reported Monday.

"With the littleness and the shrillness in his voice, it was hard to get the address at first, but he was very awesome and repeated it over and over," Overly said Friday.

Alex called 911 and sang to the dispatcher when his mother, Jamie Coder, was knocked unconscious after falling down a flight of stairs in their home. Just days earlier, Coder had taught Alex how to sing his phone number and address in case of an emergency.

"If you teach a child any kind of music or a rhyme, they will actually pick it up quicker," said Coder, who has recovered from her fall.