_{^{"We're just so happy that little boy gets to grow up and do something big for himself one day," said Jackie Holcombe on the pride she has for her husband Johnny, son—Sky, and daughter—Summer, who saved the life of a small child at the Honea Path Pool.}}

The Red Cross of South Carolina awarded one of its highest honors in a ceremony Tuesday to Johnny, Sky, and Summer Holcombe of Honea Path, S.C. The award recognizes the three family members for saving the life of a child who was unresponsive at the bottom of a pool in July 2020.

The Holcombes, trained through the American Red Cross Lifeguard and First Aid/CPR/AED courses, received the Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders, an award presented by the Red Cross to those who save or sustain a life using skills learned in a Red Cross Training Services class.

"The Holcombes’ remarkable and lifesaving actions epitomize the mission of the Red Cross to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Their story also highlights the importance of our training programs in South Carolina," said Lisa Colby, the Executive Director of the Upstate Chapter. "Thanks to the quick action and training, a little boy was able to see another day and go home to his family. This is an inspiring example of just how valuable training can be in an emergency."

It was back in July of last year, at the Honea Path Pool, when Sky Holcombe, one of the acting lifeguards on duty, noticed a young boy wasn't moving at the bottom of the pool. Sky instinctively knew something wasn't right and asked a guest to check on the child. The guest grabbed the child and screamed that the boy wasn't breathing. Sky jumped into action and alerted the two other lifeguards on duty, his family members, Johnny and Summer. The child was pulled from the pool, and they immediately began CPR.

The three heroes worked together to clear his airway, perform CPR, and resuscitate the child. Soon after, the boy opened his eyes, spit up water, and began breathing again. The 5-year-old child was transported to a local hospital, treated, and later released.

"If it wasn't for all the training and all the practice rescues that we did, I don't think we would have been able to bring him back – I wasn't sure if we were going to be able to," said Summer Holcombe. "Out of all the rescues, that was the worst one, and I'm just really thankful that we brought him back. It was humbling, and I've never done anything like that before."

Johnny, Sky, and Summer's actions exemplify the highest degree of concern human beings can have for one another.

"I'm just thankful that everything worked out the way it did. We train up here all the time and practice CPR," said Johnny Holcombe, head lifeguard at the Honea Path pool. "We train constantly for the worst-case scenario, and this was a worst-case scenario. Everybody knew exactly what to do."

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 sessions), 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.