Las Vegas, NV. November 21, 2018 —Tuesday night, Topgolf Security Guard Buck Smith was recognized for a heroic act that took place last summer at Topgolf Las Vegas when Smith called upon his American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED training to save the life of a choking baby.

“With his training from the Red Cross, and the training that we go through here at Topgolf on a daily, weekly, monthly basis, I knew he was fully capable and prepared for the situation such as that,” said Zachary Whited, Topgolf Security/Safety Manager. 

On July 29, 2017, in the middle of his shift, Smith received a call from Whited, informing him of a choking baby. Smith rushed down to find that the child was unable to breathe. Smith took action by patting the baby on the back. The baby immediately began to respond. Smith then turned the baby over and began to extract some food from the infant’s mouth until the child could breathe, and ultimately saved the life of the child. 

For this heroic and lifesaving action, Buck received the Red Cross Certificate of Merit, a certificate signed by the president that is highest award given by the Red Cross to individuals who save or sustain a life using skills learned in a Red Cross Training Services course.

Smith remarked on the experience and his certification, “I feel like anybody who has kids, or works at a place that has kids, should definitely be First Aid and CPR Certified…Red Cross, in my experience, has always been a great company to work with and has always been very thorough in the classes.” Buck renews his certification every year and has stated he will continue to do so.

The Red Cross responds to an emergency every eight minutes, and preparedness is key, especially when it comes to turning bystanders into heroes.

“We don’t know if we’re going to be Buck one morning when we wake up. Whether we are parents or grandparents, or whether we are younger than that, we need to be ready members of our community,” said Clark Dumont, American Red Cross of Southern Nevada Board Chair.

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.

If you or someone you know has used skills and knowledge learned in an American Red Cross Training Services course to help save or sustain the life of another individual, visit LifesavingAwards.org to nominate, recognize, or be inspired.

About the American Red Cross:
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 or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.