Polson firefighter Casen Elmore, center, recently received a Red Cross Lifesaving Award from Montana Red Cross Executive Director Hannah Zuraff and Montana Red Cross Board Chair Craig Stahlberg. Casen saved an unresponsive child pulled from Flathead Lake by immediately performing CPR.
When an unresponsive child was pulled from Flathead Lake last summer, Polson firefighter Casen Elmore didn’t hesitate. His quick action and calm response helped save the boy’s life — an act that earned him recognition from the Montana Red Cross.
“At the Red Cross, we often say emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere — often when we least expect them,” said Craig Stahlberg, chair of the Montana Red Cross Board of Directors. “For Casen, that moment came without warning, and he met it with courage, skill and compassion.”
Casen was spending time a July day at the lake with friends when he noticed a commotion nearby -- a small child had been pulled from the water. Without a second thought, he sprinted toward the scene.
“At that same moment, his pager went off,” said Polson Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Straub, who nominated Elmore for the Red Cross Lifesaving Award. “Casen arrived, assessed the situation and started CPR immediately. Within moments, the child began coughing and regained consciousness.”
Thanks to Casen’s swift and composed response, the boy survived.
On Nov. 3, Casen was honored during a Polson City Council meeting, where representatives from the Red Cross presented him with the Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action. The award recognizes individuals who step up in moments of crisis to save or sustain a life using Red Cross training or personal initiative.
“Casen’s quick thinking and calm response are the reason that child is alive today,” said Hannah Zuraff, executive director of the Montana Red Cross. “He reminds us all how important it is to be prepared — and that anyone can be a hero.”
The Red Cross Lifesaving Awards honor ordinary people who perform extraordinary acts. Since the program’s reintroduction in 2018, more than 3,300 people nationwide — including just a handful in Montana — have received this recognition.
For Casen, the experience underscores the importance of emergency preparedness.
“This is a good reminder that any of us could find ourselves in a similar situation,” Hannah said. “Taking a CPR or first aid class can truly save a life.”
To learn lifesaving skills through Red Cross training, visit redcross.org/takeaclass.
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