Last spring, Joshua Hernandez of Joliet sprang into action when he saw a mother and child in distress which earned him the Red Cross Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action award — a recognition that celebrates the bravery and selflessness of ordinary citizens who step up to save a life.
“I was driving home from work after a long day, and I noticed that a woman was yelling for help as she held on to a small child. I pulled over and instinct kicked in. After assessing that the child was choking on a piece of candy, I centered myself and got to work. The first aid skills kicked on automatically — I didn’t think about it, I knew what I needed to do in a rush,” said Joshua. “Hearing the little girl take a breath was so emotional. I can’t explain why I was overcome with emotion, but I’ll never forget how grateful I was for my first aid training that day.”
Emergencies can happen anytime, in any place. Knowing how to provide First Aid like CPR, using an AED, or performing abdominal thrusts or back blows when someone is choking can help gain precious time for a person experiencing an emergency. We encourage you to sign up for a lifesaving class near you at RedCross.org/TakeAClass – it truly can impact the trajectory of someone’s life in a positive way.
“I never imagined putting my first aid skills to work. Never. This incident made me realize how important and necessary it is to know first aid. Emergencies happen when you least expect them, and they happen regardless of the day and time of the year. I don’t want to imagine what would have happened to that little girl had she not gotten the help she needed. If I ever find myself needing first aid, I sure hope someone nearby will be prepared to help.”
Joshua instinctively reacted when he recognized someone needed help which is part of the twofold training imparted by the Red Cross — recognizing the signs that someone needs help and preparing you to respond when minutes matter.
During his free time, Joshua is a volunteer with the Disaster Action Team of the Illinois Red Cross. When asked why he volunteers, he shares, “Someone I work with is a Red Cross volunteer, and when he returned after deploying to a disaster in another state and heard about his work and what he did to help people — I was motivated to get involved, to be a part of something bigger. Helping communities recover after a disaster – it’s the least I can do.”
The Red Cross Lifesaving Awards Program began in 1911 when an anonymous donor contacted the American Red Cross wishing to make a donation to recognize first aid work rendered by railwaymen. Today, the program embraces three recognitions — the Certificate of Merit, the Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders, and the Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action.
Do you know someone who has used a lifesaving skill taught by the Red Cross? Nominate them for a Red Cross Lifesaving Award here.
Written by Connie Esparza, Communications Manager for the Illinois Red Cross
American Red Cross of Illinois 