by: Sharonne Hayes

When Lisa Fulk decided to sign up for a Red Cross CPR/AED course last year, she never dreamed she would have to put those skills into action…just a few weeks later.

Lisa, a news director at WXII 12 NEWS in Winston-Salem and a Red Cross volunteer and board member, decided to participate in the course back in September 2023 as a way to enhance her lifesaving skills and her connection to the Red Cross humanitarian mission and community.

Then again, stepping in during emergency situations is an evident and driving force in Lisa’s life – seen not only in her career as a journalist dedicated to community involvement but also in her desire to be lifesaver from a young age, when she took her first CPR/AED course to become a lifeguard at 16.

“I jumped in that wave pool many a time to rescue people who were not very good swimmers or struggling,” said Lisa. “So, when [the board] said they wanted to give us the opportunity to take a CPR class and be certified, I said sign me up!”

Though the lifesaving course is focused on the tools and skills needed to offer help during a cardiac arrest or other emergencies, few imagine they would ever have to employ the important skills when even the seconds count.

“I never thought I would ever have to use the skills taught in that three-hour course,” said Lisa.

In October, Lisa noticed that a coworker had begun to choke on some candy. At the time, there weren’t many people in the newsroom when the emergency happened, yet Lisa –noticing her coworker who began to gasp for air so much so that she couldn’t speak—knew that action had to be taken fast.

“I just heard [her] gasping for breath, just outside of my office,” said Lisa Fulk. “She could barely breathe and appeared to be choking and she had her hands around her throat.”

Lisa took quick action, not thinking at all when it came to rushing to her coworker, at the same time thinking quickly when it came to the skills she learned just three weeks prior. Lisa started performing quick, solid back thrusts until her coworker’s windpipe eventually cleared moments later.

“I praise God for the positive outcome, and I’m thankful for all the services the Red Cross provides,” she said. “A lot of people were scared, of course, but after things calmed down, my team started asking me ‘What did you just do?’ and wanting to know more about it.”

In May, the Piedmont Triad chapter honored Lisa Fulk with the Lifesaving Award Certificate of Merit.

“I encourage you – if you haven’t been to the class – to take it,” said Lisa. “I never thought I’d have to use those skills three weeks later but I’m thankful to God that everything ended positively.”

Today, Lisa says her colleague is doing great and is thankful for her quick and heroic actions. As is true to type, after her colleagues expressed wanting to learn more about the lifesaving skills she performed to save their coworker and friend, Lisa stepped in there, too.

She and the entire WXII team are excited to offer the Red Cross CPR/AED certification course to employees in the coming months. To her, it’s paying it forward and hopefully inspiring others to step in when a friend needs help.

You can read more and see WXII's full exclusive on Lisa's heroic actions here>>>

The Red Cross Lifesaving Award program is a part of Red Cross Training Services, a division of the American Red Cross with the mission to spread knowledge and educate as many members of the national community in lifesaving procedures. Services include training courses for CPR and AED, First Aid, Basic Life Support (BLS), Babysitting, Caregiving, Lifeguarding Water Safety, and more.  Whether you are looking for a required certificate for work or finding new ways to support and serve those around you, Red Cross Training Services can help. (Please visit https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class to learn more)

The Lifesaving Award is the highest award given by the Red Cross to an individual or group of individuals who save or sustain a life using skills learned in an American Red Cross Training Services course. For more information or to nominate the lifesaving hero in your neighborhood, click here.

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