American Red Cross
North Bay Chapter
490 Chadbourne Road
North Entrance, 2nd Floor
Fairfield, California 94534
redcross.org/northbay

Media Contact: Kathryn Hecht
Telephone: 707-291-9601
kathryn.hecht@redcross.org

Red Cross Certificate of Merit presented for using training skills to save a life

FAIRFIELD, Calif. (June 9, 2021) — On September 23, 2020, Lisa Larsen, trained in American Red Cross Adult and Child First Aid/CPR/AED, helped to save the life of her husband who was in the early stages of a stroke at their residence in Vacaville, Calif. For this heroic and lifesaving action, Larsen today received the Red Cross Certificate of Merit in a virtual ceremony.

The Certificate of Merit is the highest award given by the Red Cross to individuals who save or sustain a life using skills learned in a Red Cross Training Services course.

“We’re extremely proud to present a Certificate of Merit to Lisa Larsen,” said Jennifer Adrio, Regional CEO, American Red Cross Northern California Coastal Region. Her actions exemplify our mission to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.”

Larsen’s husband arrived home from work, and she noticed he was not himself. He explained he felt confused and had difficulty using his computer. Larsen performed an assessment by asking him to smile and taking his blood pressure. She quickly determined that her husband was in the early stages of a stroke, and she contacted the hospital and immediately transported her husband. Without a doubt, the skills learned in the American Red Cross Training Services course helped to save the life of Larsen’s husband.

Larsen reported deep gratitude for having Red Cross lifesaving skills training because she was able to recognize that there was a problem. She felt her husband would simply have laid down without going to the hospital if she did not recognize the signs of stroke. Doctors discovered a brain clot that will require active and ongoing monitoring.

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 session) 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.