The American Red Cross of South Carolina is proud to award Master State Trooper David Jones the highest honor bestowed by the American Red Cross: the National Lifesaving Award, Certificate of Merit. The award is presented to individuals who save or sustain a life by using skills and knowledge learned in an American Red Cross Training Services course. The Certificate of Merit is signed by the President of the United States, who serves as the Honorary Chairman of the Red Cross.   

The award was presented to Trooper Jones on October 4, 2022, during a ceremony at the South Carolina Department of Public Safety for his heroic act that occurred in May 2021. Trooper David Jones recounts the day he saved a life:  

For me, it’s probably one of the most memorable days of my life and my career as a trooper. I came home to finish up some paperwork, and I was in the middle of changing out of my uniform when I heard a neighbor’s kid screaming that Landon was dead.  

Landon is my next-door neighbor, and at the time, he was two and a half years old. The little girl, his 11-year-old sister, came running down the road screaming. Hearing her scream that Landon is dead brought chills. I ran outside, took off to my neighbor’s house, and saw Landon’s mother retrieving him from the pool.  

When I ran into the backyard, she immediately handed me Landon’s lifeless body. Looking back, I think about the image of a lifeless toddler - blue as the sky. He had no response, no body control or function. I remember giving back blows, laying him down, and giving him breaths. After several minutes it was like gallons of water was coming up. I was amazed that such a little body could hold that much water. As he coughed up water and started to come to, he began to have eye movements and hold his head up.  

I remember calling 9-1-1, and the operator was asking me so many questions, but I was overwhelmed and focused on trying to give CPR and get this water out. Fortunately, after what seemed like an eternity, which in reality turned out to be about 15 minutes, some deputies showed up, and I passed him on to the two officers. 

I think about what transpired that evening and how emotionally draining it was seeing a lifeless two-year-old. As a father of two boys, that could have been my kids. As rewarding as it is to have saved a life, there’s still unfinished work because there are so many people who don’t have the training and so many people who wouldn’t know what to do.  

In this instance, I had neighbors who came out to join me, but they had no clue to handle it. Going forward, it’s a personal mission that all my neighbors should have training. All my family should know what to do. All my friends need lifesaving training because this could happen to anybody. If it could happen to me in my neighborhood next door, it could happen to anybody.  

I felt like I was at the right place at the right time. I didn’t even think about the task at hand, and it’s honestly like the training just kicked in. It was second nature. I knew what I had to do. I knew that what I was doing had a positive impact because I could see the reaction in Landon’s body. I saw Landon come back to life.  

Running to that situation, it never dawned on me to do anything different. I knew that I had to get to that pool. I had to get to that little boy, and I had to start lifesaving measures. I was fortunate that the training helped me do that. I think continuous training prepares you for situations like that, so when the time comes, you’re not left in shock. You’re not immobilized by not knowing what to do. 

As a trooper, we have a lot of training. When danger strikes, we’re taught to run towards it. If there’s gunfire, we go into gunfire. If there’s a collision and somebody’s trapped in a car, we will do our best to ensure they’re rescued. It’s part of our mission. It’s part of our training. But everyone can have lifesaving skills training.  

Everyone can have the same training through the Red Cross. That way, if an emergency happens, you know what to do. I encourage everyone, friends, neighbors, and family, to get training from the Red Cross. To get training not only in CPR but basic first aid because, as a parent and community member, I feel it’s my duty if one of my neighbors needs me; I want to be there for them. I’m passionate about it now because I’ve seen firsthand what the program did and how I was able to react to a stressful situation, and it all goes back to training. 

TAKE A CLASS Sign up to learn lifesaving skills such as CPR/AED or first aid so you, too, can act in the event of an emergency. Learn more here: redcross.org/takeaclass