Your Red Cross Update

20-year-old Vincent Hayes, a Vacaville volunteer firefighter, was presented with the Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action (CEPA) by the American Red Cross on November 18 for his heroic actions of saving a man’s life while at “The Happiest Place on Earth” in early August of this year. 

As Vincent and his girlfriend boarded the Disneyland Railroad 30 minutes before midnight, there was a commotion that caught his attention. Another couple adjacent to the ride was laying a man down on the floor after asking if “he was ok”. 

Vincent instantly took action, hopped off the slow-moving train and ran towards the couple and the man who wasn’t ok. Once on the ground, he assessed the situation and checked for the man’s pulse. He was apneic, not breathing while unconscious, and pulseless. 

Without hesitation, the gentleman who had first reached the now unconscious man, initiated CPR while Vincent instructed Disneyland employees to call for Anaheim Fire and to get an automated external defibrillator (AED). After the gentleman’s CPR cycle was over, it was Vincent’s turn to perform CPR. While Vincent was giving compressions, he noticed the man had started gasping for air.  

One more person took over performing CPR before the AED arrived. Vincent turned it on, used the sheers to cut open the man’s shirt and applied the pads, warning folks not to touch the man while shocks were administered. Once the AED said, “no shock advised”, Vincent instructed everyone involved to continue giving manual compressions. 

Less than 10 minutes later, the on-site nurse came with a medical bag and Anaheim Fire hooked the man up to their monitors. They said that he had regained a pulse after chest compressions. 

When asked what was running through Vincent’s mind during this incident, he shared, “I honestly had tunnel vision, but I only had one goal which was to save that person’s life.” And Vincent did exactly that. 

About two months later, and on his 20^th birthday, Vincent was awarded the CEPA Lifesaving Award in Fairfield, Calif. during a Red Cross meeting, by the Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross North Bay Chapter, Vincent Valenzuela.

“Vincent’s quick thinking, selflessness and determination to make a difference exemplify the Red Cross mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering in times of crisis,” said Vincent Valenzuela. “Heroes like Vincent remind us that lifesaving skills matter, and that one person can truly change the outcome of an emergency.”

“It’s important to have lifesaving skills because you never know when you’re going to need them and you never know when you’re going to use them,” Vincent Hayes reflected.  

The Red Cross Lifesaving Awards program dates to 1911, when an anonymous donor pledged $5,000 to honor first aid work by railway employees. More than a century later, the program continues to recognize individuals like Vincent who step up in moments of crisis, save lives and exemplify the Red Cross mission. 

We are also grateful to Vincent’s nominator, Robert Jacoby, for sharing Vincent’s story with us. If you or someone you know has used skills learned in an American Red Cross Training Services course to save or sustain a life, visit LifesavingAwards.org to nominate, recognize or be inspired.

Red Cross training gives people the confidence to act in an emergency and the skills to save a life. A variety of online, blended (online with in-person skills sessions), and classroom courses are available at redcross.org/takeaclass.