On December 6, Rosie Taravella, CEO, American Red Cross New Jersey Region and Sara Huisking, Executive Director, Red Cross Northern New Jersey Chapter, presented Sean Rowen, Collin Reisman, Ron D'Aurizio and Matthew Smits of the Wyckoff Family YMCA, with the American Red Cross Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders. Friends and family members were on hand as the recipients were honored during a meeting of the Red Cross Northern New Jersey Board of Directors held at the Montclair Golf Club in West Orange, New Jersey.

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Robin Howard was an active member at the Wyckoff Family YMCA and could often be found swimming laps in the pool. On May 31^st, Sean Rowen happened to be the active lifeguard on duty at the pool. Sean saw Robin swimming that day and then noticed how he was suddenly passive in the water. Immediately, Sean activated the Emergency Action Plan and entered the water to begin extraction.

Sean brought Robin’s head above the water and with the help of fellow lifeguards Matt Smits and Ron D’Aurizio, they extricated Robin out of the pool.

Matt conducted an assessment and promptly began CPR while Ron called 911. Collin Reisman arrived on scene with an AED and proceeded to dry Robin’s chest, then quickly attached the pads. After the AED analyzed and shocked Robin, Collin and Matt continued two-man CPR using compressions and Bag-Valve-Mmask (BVM) ventilation with high flow oxygen. Collin and Matt continued care until EMS arrived and Robin was transported by ambulance to the hospital.

Robin Howard is recovering and plans to be back in the pool at the Wyckoff Family YMCA within months. Without a doubt, the skills Ron, Colling, Sean and Matthew learned with American Red Cross Training Services helped save Mr. Howard’s life.

“This is one of the highest awards given by the American Red Cross to an individual or team of individuals who saves or sustains a life by using skills and knowledge learned in a Red Cross Training Services course,” proclaimed Taravella during the award presentation. “Your action exemplifies the highest degree of concern of one human being for another who is in distress.”

Robin Howard, together with his wife Dorothy, attended the ceremony and told the audience, “The right people were in the right place at the right moment to take care of me. That’s just astonishing.”

After sharing how his doctors informed him that without the actions of the four men being honored, his chance of survival would have only been one percent, Howard concluded, “I would like to add to my thanks to these gentlemen, my profound thanks to the Red Cross and to the YMCA and to those people who support and contribute to them. So, thank you very, very much for having given me an opportunity to continue living.”

National Lifesaving Awards

After 110 years, the American Red Cross Lifesaving Awards program, originally conceived as one award in 1911, has since evolved into three: The Certificate of Merit, The Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders, and The Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action.

The first was awarded 1911 in recognition of first aid work rendered by railway men who helped save a life. From 1911, thousands of awards have been issued to individuals who have saved or have sustained a life, many as a direct result of American Red Cross Training Services programs.

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, you can visit LifesavingAwards.org to nominate, recognize, or be inspired.