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When asked how they recruit and retain lifeguards, here is what your colleagues have said...
"We have begun to publicly recognize lifeguards that have made rescues with chapter-developed awards at the opening night of our aquatic school."
Chris Hughes
Atlanta, GA
The Lifesaving Award for the Professional Responder is a national-level award available for chapters to recognize professional responders who save or sustain a life while on duty using skills learned in American Red Cross Health and Safety Services training. The awards package includes a certificate signed by Marsha Johnson Evans, president of the American Red Cross, and David McLaughlin, chairman of the American Red Cross; a citation summarizing the actions taken; and medals. If you know a lifeguard who might be eligible for the Lifesaving Award for the Professional Responder, please direct him or her to complete and return our questionnaire. To access this questionnaire and to read stories of everyday heroes who have received the Lifesaving Award for the Professional Responder and other national awards, visit the Everyday Heroes Web site.
A True Hero Saves a Drowning Child
By Kristine Ripley
"Are you sure you saw someone go under? No one is missing a child." Jon Aerts replied, "I know what I saw," and dove again. Jon was lifeguarding on a crowded day at Lake Elmo in Minnesota, when he saw a child go under the water and not resurface. He quickly alerted the other lifeguards and cleared the lake. Jon then ran into the water and kept diving and sweeping the ground of the 4-foot water. Jon persisted in his search even though each time he resurfaced he was told that nobody was missing a child. After repeatedly diving under the water, he felt the boy's leg.
Beach-goers will never forget the image of Jon rising out of the water with the young boy's limp, ashen-white body, cradled in his arms and then running him to the sand, the boy's arms hanging down and swaying back and forth. The boy was 6-year-old Tyler Fosse. Tyler's lips were blue, and he was not breathing. When Jon reached the shore, he immediately started rescue breathing. Tyler began to cough up water, and Jon rested him on his side. His breathing was very labored. The local rescue team soon arrived, continued treatment and transported him to the hospital where he was released with a good bill-of-health.
Many people at the lake have written Jon, letting him know how extremely touched and impressed they were with his determination and courage. One lady wrote "This was a life-altering event for me...As far as I am concerned you did the most amazing thing a person can do during their life...you were responsible for saving another human life...a child's life," and she was in awe of his "strength of character." Another wrote, "May you always trust yourself and live up to your own high expectations."
Jon Aerts' Red Cross lifeguard training was invaluable that day. He has been awarded the American Red Cross Lifesaving Award for the Professional Responder for his heroic actions.
See Everyday Heroes on RedCross.org for the story of another lifeguard who has received the American Red Cross Lifesaving Award for the Professional Responder.
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