IRVINE, CALIFORNIA Three women who saved an 11-year-old girl from drowning two weeks ago were honored Tuesday as "All-American Heroes" by Irvine police and the Orange County Fire Authority.

Marleen Basham of Anaheim and LeAnne Cirivello of Irvine were presented with plaques for their quick thinking. Kristin Rosales of Irvine was unable to attend the ceremony.

"I don't feel like a hero," said Basham, who pulled Patricia Jiminez from an apartment complex pool July 28. "When you see a child in trouble, you're on automatic."

Basham, 41, said she dove into the pool when she saw Patricia floating face down, spread-eagle in the pool. The girl was blue and unconscious.

Cirivello and Rosales heard Basham's cries for help and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Cirivello, 31, breathed for Patricia while Rosales compressed her chest until paramedics arrived.

Experts say the recovering youngster is lucky. While many people freeze in emergency situations, three strangers kicked into action that Saturday.

"You're thinking this is someone's daughter, someone's future mother, someone's future grandmother," said Cirivello, a certified CPR student.

"They're very good (people)," Patricia said of her rescuers. "I could have died."

Her mother, Estela Resendis, 31, of Santa Ana, thanked the women for saving her "Patti."

"Thanks to God, my little girl is alive," Resendis said in a telephone interview Tuesday night. "And to the people who saved her, thank you very much also. ... I'm very sorry I couldn't (attend the ceremony)."

There have been 43 drownings in Orange County so far this year. Fire authorities say keeping an eye on pools reduces the risk of drowning.

Cirivello and Basham said they have learned lessons from that nearly fatal accident.

Basham said she plans to renew her CPR training. She will watch the entire pool instead of focusing on her own charge.

"Don't assume someone else is watching," she said. "That was too close a call."

Cirivello said she realizes how many people don't react in such situations.

The women and their friends were treated to lunch at Mimi's Café, which sponsored the awards. They also were given gift certificates to the restaurant.

"Together we must have saved a life, and it was a good feeling," Basham said.