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SAN JOSE (November 21, 2019) — On March 3, 2019, four employees of TDK Headway Technologies – Jeffrey Meador, Dave Dinh, Geraldine De La Cruz, and Brian Alves – helped save the life of their co-worker, Maria Juntado, when she began choking during lunch. For their heroic and lifesaving actions, Jeffrey Meador and Geraldine De La Cruz have been awarded the American Red Cross Certificate of Merit, and Dave Dinh and Brian Alves have been awarded the American Red Cross Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action in a ceremony at TDK Headway Technologies in Milpitas on November 14, 2019.
“The Certificate of Merit and the Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action are given to individuals, like Jeffry, Geraldine, Dave, and Brian, who step up in an emergency situation and help save or sustain a life,” said Ken Toren, CEO, American Red Cross Silicon Valley Chapter. “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.”
On March 3, 2019, Jeffrey Meador, trained in American Red Cross Adult First Aid/CPR/AED, helped to save the life of a woman who began to choke during lunch at TDK Headway Technologies Inc. in Milpitas, CA. The woman was in the lunchroom, eating her meal when she started to choke on her food. Co-worker, Dave Dinh, notified supervisors and the manager-on-duty. Supervisor, Geraldine De La Cruz, also trained in American Red Cross Adult First Aid/CPR/AED, contacted 9-1-1, while co-workers, Brian Alves, and Mr. Meador went to aid the woman. Mr. Meador performed abdominal thrusts, successfully dislodging a large piece of food from the woman’s airway, allowing her to breathe. Emergency Medical Staff arrived and continued to provide care. The woman was transported to a local hospital. Without a doubt, the skills learned in the American Red Cross Training Services course helped to save the life of this woman.
For this act, Dave Dinh and Brian Alves have been awarded the American Red Cross Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action, and Jeffrey Meador and Geraldine De La Cruz have been awarded the American Red Cross Certificate of Merit. This is the highest award given by the American Red Cross to an individual or team of individuals who saves or sustains a life by using skills and knowledge learned in an American Red Cross Training Services course.
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 Northern California Coastal Region: 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/NorCalCoastal or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossNorCal or Facebook at @RedCrossNorCalCoastal.