The American Red Cross is proud to be presenting Lifesaving Awards on Saturday to 3 staff members at the Joliet Park District for their courageous lifesaving actions during a water aerobics class last summer.

WHAT: American Red Cross Lifesaving Awards Presentation

WHERE: Inwood Athletic Club, 3000 W Jefferson St, Joliet, IL

WHO: American Red Cross Executive Director, Honorees and the woman rescued

WHEN: Saturday, March 26 at 10:00AM

On June 2, 2021, three lifeguards working at the Inwood Athletic Club in Joliet called on their American
Red Cross lifeguard training to help save the life of a Shorewood woman in her 70’s after she collapsed during a group water aerobics class.

Julia Castillo was the active lifeguard on duty who noticed the woman in the water and immediately activated the Emergency Action Plan, which triggered fellow lifeguard Cole Kics to respond as well. Together
the two lifeguards got the woman out of the water using a backboard and started to assess her as she was not breathing and had no pulse. The Safety and
Aquatics Superintendent, Lauren Ryan, also responded and together CPR was started as an automated external defibrillator, or AED, was set up. The AED
advised a shock, and the lifeguards continued CPR as she began to show signs of life and regain consciousness. Local EMS arrived and took over care of the woman who says she finally started to fully regain consciousness in the ambulance.

The Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders is the highest award given by the Red Cross to individuals or group of individuals who save or sustain a life using skills learned in a Red Cross Training Services course.

“We’re extremely proud to be presenting a Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders to three outstanding lifeguards and members of this community,” said Brian McDaniel, executive director of the American Red Cross of the Illinois River Valley.
Their actions exemplify our mission to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.”

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.

Join us at 10:00AM at the Inwood Athletic Club!