American Red Cross honors six Marana Parks and Recreation staff for saving a life

On July 13, 2019, an elderly male seated near the Ora Mae Harn District Park swimming pool appeared to be sleeping when a lifeguard approached him, however, the man was unresponsive. The lifeguard activated the emergency action plan to immediately respond and assist the individual. Through the coordination of six staff members, three-person CPR and AED interventions were administered to save the individual’s life. 

“Based on the professional actions of our Town of Marana lifeguard staff, the patient is alive, has no neurological deficits, and is at home with his family recovering from this life-threating experience,” said Parks and Recreation Director Jim Conroy.

“The Town of Marana commends the American Red Cross for the training and setting the standard that our staff followed to save a life,” said Town Manager Jamsheed Mehta.

For their heroic and lifesaving actions, six staff members of Marana Arizona Parks and Recreation Department: Kevin Goodrich, Noah McConnell, Joshua Larsen, Clayton Hall, Brinley Miller and Spencer Murphy received the Red Cross Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders. The Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders is one of the highest awards given by the American Red Cross 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.

“We’re extremely honored to present the Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders to six staff members of Marana Arizona Parks and Recreation,” said American Red Cross Executive Director Courtney Slanaker. “Their actions exemplify our mission to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.” 

The staff also received the Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from United States Senator Martha McSally, and Parks and Recreation Coordinator Kevin Goodrich received the Lifesaving Instructor Award from the American Red Cross.

 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, visitLifesavingAwards.org to nominate, recognize, or be inspired.