The American Red Cross of Central and Southwest Oklahoma presented a national Lifesaving Award to Fletcher Police Ofc. Timothy Kreul in recognition of his heroic actions to save a man’s life.

In January, Kreul was on duty when he received a call to a home where a 65-year-old man was unresponsive and not breathing. When Kreul arrived, he found the man unconsciousness, without a pulse and not breathing.

Kreul immediately started CPR and successfully resuscitated the man twice; however, the man’s heart stopped again. He continued CPR until emergency medical services arrived, assisting them with additional lifesaving measures.

Paramedics managed to revive the patient once more and transported him to Comanche County Memorial Hospital. He has made a full recovery.

“CPR, first aid and AED are critical to first responders,” Kreul told KSWO. “We’re the first on the scene. Most of the time, we have to assess the situation appropriately, and with CPR, first aid, if we weren’t trained, we would lose a lot of lives. I’m very thankful that the people that do train us are out there.”

Red Cross staff members and Fletcher Police Chief Jason DeLonais presented Kreul with the Lifesaving Award on Aug. 12 at Fletcher Community Center.

“Emergencies can happen at any time: in the grocery store parking lot, at a family wedding, on a hot day at the community pool, at the office and even inside your home. That’s why it’s so important for people to learn lifesaving skills, like Ofc. Timothy Kreul did,” said Loida Haffener Salmond, Executive Director of the Red Cross of Central and Southwest Oklahoma. “You never know when skills like CPR or first aid will be needed — or who will need your help.”

Since 2018, the Red Cross has presented National Lifesaving Awards to roughly 3,300 individuals worldwide; as a result, they have helped save about 1,700 lives. To learn more about the National Lifesaving Awards or to nominate someone, visit LifesavingAwards.org.