In July of 2022, Kiernan Smith, a high school student from Chatham, New Jersey, attended a Lifeguard in-service training session at the Chatham Fish and Game Club. The session was led by instructor Henry Cortacans, who taught Kiernan and other students various lifesaving skills.

One week later, Kiernan was off duty and out at a local restaurant with five of his fellow lifeguards. As the friends enjoyed their meals, one friend, Hayden, suddenly had a total airway obstruction and began to struggle to breathe.

Kiernan asked Hayden what was wrong, and Hayden demonstrated the universal sign of choking (hands on throat) in front of the group. Kiernan recognized his friend was choking and immediately got up from the table, ran behind Hayden and performed the airway obstruction skills of back blows and abdominal thrusts. After one full round, the obstruction came out – allowing Hayden to start breathing again.

The boys – quite shaken – stepped outside to calm down and decompress. After a few minutes, they went back inside the restaurant where all of the witnesses to the event congratulated Kiernan for doing such an outstanding job while saving his friend’s life.

On September 6, 2023, the Red Cross celebrated Kiernan and presented him with the Certificate of Merit -- one of the highest awards presented to an individual or team of individuals who saves or sustains a life by using skills and knowledge learned in a Red Cross Training Services Course. This action exemplifies the highest level of concern of one individual by another. The certificate bears the signature of the President of the United States, Joe Biden, as the Honorary Chairman of the Red Cross and Red Cross Chairman Bonnie McElveen-Hunter.

Additionally, the Red Cross was pleased to present Henry Cortacans of Lawrenceville with the Lifesaving Instructors Award, as the instructor who taught Red Cross lifesaving skills to Kiernan. To learn Red Cross lifesaving skills, like first aid and CPR, register for a Red Cross Training Services class at redcross.org/Take-A-Class.

National Lifesaving Awards

After 110 years, the American Red Cross Lifesaving Awards program, originally conceived as one award in 1911, has since evolved into three: The Certificate of Merit, The Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders, and The Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action.

The first was awarded 1911 in recognition of first aid work rendered by railway men who helped save a life. From 1911, thousands of awards have been issued to individuals who have saved or have sustained a life, many as a direct result of American Red Cross Training Services programs.

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, you can visit LifesavingAwards.org to nominate, recognize, or be inspired.