American Red Cross of the Bay Area
1300 Alberta Way
Concord, CA 9452

Contact: Cari Dighton
Phone: 415-583-2949
cari.dighton@redcross.org

Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action presented for his heroic efforts

Concord, Calif., August 26, 2021 — On March 26, 2021, Officer Aaron Khamosh helped save the life of a young girl who was unable to breathe after exposure to Fentanyl. For his heroic and lifesaving actions, Officer Khamosh today received the American Red Cross Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action in a ceremony at the Concord Police Department.

“The Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action is given to individuals, like Officer Khamosh, who step up in an emergency situation and help save or sustain a life,” said Jennifer Adrio, CEO of the Northern California Coastal Region of the American Red Cross. “These individuals exemplify the mission of the Red Cross to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies and are to be commended for their willingness to help others in distress.”

Officer Khamosh was on routine patrol when he noticed a vehicle driving erratically and then park. Officer Khamosh contacted the male driver, who said his baby was not breathing. An adult female then exited the vehicle holding an unresponsive 2-year-old girl. Officer Khamosh saw that the child's lips were turning purple, and he could not detect a pulse. He called for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and began administering CPR on the child. When the child still did not appear to be taking in oxygen on her own, the adult female told Officer Khamosh that the child needed Narcan because she had been exposed to Fentanyl, a powerful narcotic. Officer Khamosh immediately retrieved his Narcan kit from his vehicle and administered the treatment. He then continued administering CPR, and after one minute, the child opened her eyes and began to breathe independently. Firefighters and EMS arrived on the scene and assumed care of the child, who has made a full recovery.

Officer Aaron Khamosh is a first-generation Afghan-American, fluent in the language of Farsi (dhari) and a devout Muslim. Passionate about helping the people in his community, Officer Khamosh knew that he could give back to the community and keep people safe through law enforcement. In high school, he joined the Concord Police Department’s Cadet program and went on to graduate from San Francisco State University where he earned his BA in Criminal Justice. He has served the people of this community as a Concord Police Officer for nearly two and a half years. "Donning the uniform" makes him feel "proud and honored to represent such a great department."

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:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter.