Cadillac pediatrician Elizabeth Rzepka-Alto, M.D., who was honored Tuesday by the American Red Cross for performing lifesaving CPR on a boy while on vacation in Mexico last year, advocated for learning CPR and “having the courage to use it” when needed. 

“There’s not always a safety net, there’s not always someone else coming, there’s not always an ambulance right behind you, is what I learned that day,” Dr. Rzepka-Alto said.

“I would just encourage everyone to get as trained as they are comfortable with, and then if they find themselves in a situation, to trust yourself, to do what you need to do, and use the skills that you have.”

Dr. Rzepka-Alto, a board certified pediatrician, was credited with helping to save the life of James Selnes of Minnesota who suffered an apparent cardiac arrest in a swimming pool. She performed several minutes of CPR using chest compressions during a dramatic resuscitation that included use of an AED and two EpiPen injections.

Dr. Rzepka-Alto received a Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action at an award presentation at Cadillac City Hall. The award, which includes a certificate and lapel pin, honors individuals who step up in an emergency and help save or sustain a life using lifesaving skills (that may or not be taught by the Red Cross Training Services).

The award was presented by Michelle Gallagher, executive director of the Northern Michigan Chapter of the Red Cross.

“Dr. Elizabeth, your lifesaving action exemplifies the mission of the Red Cross to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies,” Gallagher said. “Thank you for your willingness to help others in distress.” 

Dr. Rzepka-Alto, who had been recertified in neonatal resuscitation a week before her vacation, acknowledged her resuscitation efforts alone were not enough, and that she was accepting the award “on behalf of a lot of people (who were involved in the resuscitation). This isn’t just for me. This is for a group.” 

The doctor was on vacation with family and friends at a resort in Mexico when a medical emergency unfolded on March 28, 2024. Angela Selnes and her family from Minnesota were staying at the same resort. This was the Selnes’ family first day at the resort.

Dr. Rzepka-Alto had gathered with her family and friends for dinner at a restaurant about 6 p.m. She was seated at a table near a window with a view of a swimming pool. Shortly after an appetizer arrived at their dinner table, she noticed a commotion at the pool and a boy who was “clearly unconscious” being pulled out of the pool. She would later learn the boy was Selnes’ son, James.

Dr. Rzepka-Alto ran out of the restaurant to the pool, identified herself as a pediatrician and determined James was in cardiac arrest. She then began CPR using chest compressions. She performed chest compressions for several minutes while another resort guest was doing rescue breaths. Other resort guests arrived to help with the resuscitation, which went on for about 10 minutes. An AED and two EpiPen injections were also used to help resuscitate James. 

Today, 9-year-old James is doing well, and his mother, Angela, credits Dr. Rzepka-Alto, along with other resort guests, with helping to save her son. Angela Selnes nominated the doctor for the Red Cross lifesaving award. 

“This took an entire team of people that we did not know who came together to save our son,” Angela Selnes said. “Thank you, Elizabeth for keeping our family together. Our family being together is the most important thing to my husband and I, and we are still together today because of the amazing acts and miracle that happened that day.” 

Mayor Antionette Schippers said the city of Cadillac was grateful to one of their own.

“You represent the best of us,” Schippers said. “Someone who learned the skills, practiced the skills and had the courage to step up when needed and just take charge. We’re just so proud of you.” 

The Red Cross National Lifesaving Awards is a program dating back to 1911 that provides recognition to individuals or teams, with or without Red Cross training, who either save or sustain a life. The program consists of three awards, the Certificate of Merit, the Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders, and the Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action.

These awards and their recipients embody the spirit and mission of the Red Cross, by using action to alleviate human suffering in the face of an emergency. 

Since 2018, the Red Cross has honored more than 3,119 individuals worldwide. Their heroism has helped save more than 1,577 lives.

Learning more about CPR and other lifesaving training courses at redcross.org/TakeAClass.

By David Olejarz, regional communications director