Certificate of Exemplary Personal Action Award presented for their heroic efforts.
GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP (July 21, 2022) – The American Red Cross presented its Certificate of Extraordinary Person Action Award to three off-duty Grand Blanc Township firefighters who helped saved the lives of three people found unresponsive and not breathing. David Bechtel Jr., Adam Frank and Lyle Knopf were honored at the fire department on
Tuesday.
“The Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action is given to individuals who step up in an emergency situation and help save or sustain a life,” said Becky Gaskin, executive director of the East Central Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross Michigan Region who made the presentation. “These firefighters 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.”
The firefighters were on a weekend snowmobile trip with friends on Feb. 19, 2022, near the village of Curtis in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, when they were called to a nearby cabin where three men were found to be unresponsive and not breathing. The firefighters performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the men until first responders from the Michigan State Police, local fire department and emergency medical services arrived. The men were transported to a local hospital. The firefighters were nominated for the Red Cross lifesaving award by their fire chief Robert Burdette. Bechtel and Frank are four-year and nine-year veterans, respectively, of the fire department. Knopf retired July 1 after a 16-year career.
Get Trained
The Red Cross provides lifesaving courses that train people to respond in emergencies. A variety of online, blended (online and in-person skills session) and classroom courses are available at www.redcross.org/takeaclass.
Nominate Someone
People can go to www.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 courses to respond to an emergency
situation.
In the attached photo are, from left to right: Kent Maricle, deputy fire chief; Ken Marks, American Red Cross and AmeriCorps volunteer; Becky Gaskin, executive director of the East Central Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross Michigan Region; lifesaving award recipients and Grand Blanc Township firefighters David Bechtel Jr., Adam Frank and Lyle Knopf; Robert Burdette, fire chief; and Tamisha Naylor, American Red Cross and AmeriCorps volunteer.
MEDIA CONTACT: David Olejarz | david.olejarz@redcross.org | 313-303-0606
About the American Red Cross
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 not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information please visit redcross.org/michigan or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @MIRedCross.