Morgan DeSalvo and teammate Megan Ference. Photo from Megan Ference.
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Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action presented for their heroic efforts
SANTA ROSA, CA — For heroic actions that resulted in a life saved a year ago, six Sonoma County residents were honored with American Red Cross commendations on Thursday, January 14, in a virtual ceremony hosted by the organization's North Bay Chapter.
Monica Ohkubo, Jill McCormack, Tyler Denize, Kaitlyn Morrison, Nolan Stimple, and Megan Ference received awards for the "extraordinary action" each took to save the life of Santa Rosa Junior College swimmer Morgan DeSalvo, who experienced cardiac arrest during swim practice.
“The Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action is given to individuals, like these six heroes who step up in an emergency situation and help save or sustain a life,” said Jeff Baumgartner, Executive Director of the American Red Cross North Bay Chapter. “These individuals exemplify the mission of the Red Cross to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies and are to be commended for their willingness to help others in distress.”
On March 5, 2020, Morgan DeSalvo became passive in the water at Santa Rosa Junior College in Santa Rosa, CA. His teammate, Kaitlyn Morrison, realized something was wrong, grabbed Morgan’s elbow, and called out for help. Another teammate, Megan Ferrence, dropped underwater and lifted Morgan’s head above the water. Coach Tyler Denize pulled Morgan from the water, and Coach Nolan Stimple began CPR. Coach Jill McCormick prepared the AED (automated external defibrillator) as Head Athletic Trainer and certified American Red Cross instructor Monica Ohkubo arrived to administer the AED. After one shock from the AED and several cycles of CPR, Emergency Medical Services arrived and took over.
The coaches credit emergency training and a formalized Emergency Action Plan as vital factors that contributed to their ability to save a life that day. “When you’re trained and your staff is trained, it should run like clockwork," says Monica Ohkubo. "It should be like a well-rehearsed dance.”
To read more about the incident, click here.
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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.