Media Contact:
Dana Simmons, Communications Manager
Email: dana.simmons@redcross.org
Phone: 858-205-0148
SAN DIEGO – July 29, 2021 – In July 2020, Shane Ryan was surfing near Bird Rock Beach in La Jolla when he used his First Aid training to help save the life of a gentleman who fell off a nearby cliff into the water. For his heroic and lifesaving actions, Ryan was honored this week by the American Red Cross of San Diego and Imperial Counties and was awarded the Lifesaving Award Certificate of Merit, one of the highest awards given by the Red Cross.
“We’re extremely proud of Shane and his willingness to put his training into action,” said Sean Mahoney, Regional CEO of the American Red Cross Southern California Region. “Shane’s quick response and immediate action in a time of need truly embodies the spirit and mission of the Red Cross.”
On July 22, 2020, Ryan was enjoying the day surfing near Bird Rock Beach in La Jolla when he noticed a gentleman fall into the water off a high cliff. The gentleman screamed as he entered the water. Ryan paddled toward the individual and saw that he was near the reef in visible pain. Ryan quickly brought him to the shore. Once ashore Ryan performed an assessment and advised a bystander to contact 9-1-1. Ryan continued to stay with the gentleman and evaluate him until the Emergency Medical Services arrived. Without a doubt, Ryan’s quick and appropriate action and the skills he learned in the American Red Cross Training Services course helped to save the life of this individual.
For this heroic action, Ryan was awarded the Lifesaving Awards Certificate of Merit. This is one of the highest awards given by the Red Cross to an individual who sustains a life by using skills and knowledge learned in a Red Cross Training Services course.
American Red Cross Training Services teaches lifesaving skills to an average of more than 9 million people each year, including thousands of people in San Diego and Imperial Counties. Red Cross training empowers people with 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.
Visit 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. For more information about the American Red Cross of Southern California, visit redcross.org/SoCal.
About the American Red Cross Southern California Region
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. The Red Cross Southern California Region proudly serves San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial Counties. In addition to carrying out disaster preparedness and response programs, blood collection, health and safety training, international services programs and supporting the military community, the Southern California Region provides nutritional counseling through its Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program in San Diego and helps communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters through its Prepare SoCal and Prepare San Diego initiatives. For more information, please visit redcross.org/SoCal or cruzrojaamericana.org, or connect with the Southern California Region on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube or Facebook.
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