Media Contact: Winston Henvey
972-213-5330 | Winston.Henvey@redcross.org

DALLAS, Aug. 19, 2026 — American Red Cross training gave Dallas resident Dallas Caulkins the skills and confidence to respond when a colleague suffered a cardiac arrest at work in December of 2024.

Caulkins, who had completed Red Cross lifesaving training, was among several coworkers who responded after finding their colleague collapsed. An automated external defibrillator (AED) was used, and Caulkins performed chest compressions while another coworker provided rescue breaths until emergency medical services arrived.

The colleague survived and spent about 10 days on life support before beginning his recovery. Several weeks later, Caulkins received a call from her colleague.

“Getting a call from him and hearing his voice again, there’s nothing like that,” Caulkins said.

While coworkers called her a hero, Caulkins credits her [Red Cross] training for giving her the knowledge to act.

“I feel like I just did what my training taught me to do,” she said.

Her experience demonstrates the importance of being prepared to respond to cardiac arrest and other emergencies before professional help arrives.

“Traumatic incidents can happen anywhere, at any time, with any person,” Caulkins said. “If you have training through the American Red Cross, you could possibly be what saves someone’s life.”

The American Red Cross offers training in CPR, AED use, first aid and other lifesaving skills to help individuals, families, businesses and organizations prepare to respond during an emergency. To learn more, visit RedCross.org/training.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.