ANCHORAGE, Alaska, November 13, 2020 — In September 2019, Nick Ridley helped save the life of a colleague when he stepped in to perform the Heimlich maneuver following a choking incident at the Colville River Unit on Alaska’s western North Slope. For his heroic and lifesaving actions, Nick Ridley today received the American Red Cross Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action in a virtual ceremony.
“The Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action is given to individuals, like Nick, who step up in an emergency situation and help save or sustain a life,” said Buddy Custard, American Red Cross of Alaska Board of Directors Chair. “These individuals exemplify the mission of the Red Cross to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies.”
During the virtual ceremony, which was attended by Red Cross of Alaska staff, volunteers and board members, Custard presented Ridley with the Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action and commended him for his willingness to help others in distress. Ridley was also awarded the Workplace Safety Award, sponsored by ConocoPhillips Alaska, during this year’s Red Cross of Alaska virtual Real Heroes Awards, hosted in May.
Get Trained
Red Cross training gives people the knowledge and skills to act in an emergency and save a life. A variety of online, blended (online and in-person skills session) and classroom courses are available at redcross.org/takeaclass.
Nominate Someone
People can go to LifesavingAwards.org to nominate and recognize an individual or group of individuals who have used the skills and knowledge learned in an American Red Cross Training Services course to help save or sustain a life.
About the American Red Cross of Alaska:
In Fiscal Year 2020, the American Red Cross of Alaska responded to 401 disasters by offering food, shelter, relief supplies, comfort, hope and recovery services to 1,024 Alaskans in 55 communities statewide. Our preparedness teams installed 1,165 free smoke alarms and educated 775 youth through The Pillowcase Project. Our Training Services department enrolled 13,878 students in first aid/CPR/AED, aquatics and caregiving classes. Our Service to the Armed Forces staff exchanged 682 global emergency messages for U.S. military service personnel and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. In Fiscal Year 2020, our statewide workforce of 582 volunteers logged 40,851 hours in service to our mission and their fellow Alaskans. For more information, please visit redcross.org/Alaska or visit us on Twitter at @redcrossak.
