Vincent Hayes, a 20-year-old Vacaville volunteer firefighter, with his CEPA
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.
On September 27, 2024, Richard Castellon, then an off-duty police officer with the Monterey Police Department, was walking through the hallway of his Virginia apartment complex when he noticed an unconscious man lying in the gym. Without hesitation, Richard rushed to help. He quickly checked on the man, found him unresponsive and immediately called 911. While requesting an AED from the apartment staff, he began performing CPR.
Bruce Richardson and Hanna Malak, Regional CEO during the award ceremony. Photo: Virginia & Albert Becker – American Red cross
October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month, a time to reflect about the critical nature of sudden cardiac arrest and the importance of life-saving training. This month, we honor the stories of those who have trained and stepped up in such critical moments.
On February 6, 2023, Bruce Richardson witnessed a man collapse in the parking lot of an auto parts shop in Los Gatos, California. Without hesitation, he sprang into action, demonstrating the true spirit of heroism.
The individual in distress, a long-term employee of the shop, was experiencing cardiac arrest. As his coworkers called 911, Bruce began performing CPR on the unresponsive man. His decisive actions were crucial in those critical moments.
Bruce worked as a national ski patrolman for 20 years. As part of his professional training, he learned CPR and advanced first aid. However, it was his determination and courage to face this life-threating situation what really sustain the man’s life until emergency responders arrived.
For this heroic and lifesaving action, Bruce received the Red Cross Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action in a ceremony in San Jose.
“The Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action is given to individuals like Bruce, who step up in an emergency situation and help save or sustain a life,” said Ken Toren, Executive Director for the Red Cross Silicon Valley Chapter. “He exemplifies the mission of the Red Cross to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies.”
Bruce Richardson’s story is an inspiring example of how training, combined with a willingness to act, can save lives.
Rishi Leung and his family Photo courtesy of Rishi Leung
In December 2023, Rishi Leung, a 16-year-old in his home in San Francisco, was heading to the kitchen to get a drink when he noticed his grandma walking to the sink and losing her balance. She had just been eating a meal and seeing her disoriented was unusual. He said, “She spun and fell over and that was the moment I realized that something wasn’t right.”
He ran over to assess the situation and help her. His grandma was visibly struggling to speak and thanks to Rishi’s encounter with American Red Cross posters around his school and videos online, he realized his grandma might be choking. In that moment, Rishi remained composed despite the adrenaline coursing through his body and took the initiative to perform abdominal thrusts on his grandma. “I remembered seeing this in the videos. I wasn’t sure if it would work, but I had to try to help her,” Rishi explained.
Photo courtesy of Rishi Leung
Rishi’s efforts were successful. Anita, Rishi’s mother, observed from a distance while battling COVID-19 at the time. “I watched Rishi help his grandma and call 911. I was very grateful that he acted, and I remember four EMTs [emergency medical technicians] entering our house with their equipment,” she recalled. “It was a very scary experience, especially since Rishi’s grandma couldn’t speak English. But knowing Rishi was in the ambulance with her brought reassurance.”
During the ambulance ride, Rishi comforted his grandma, translating for her and holding her hand. At the hospital, Rishi watched as medical professionals attended to his grandma, feeling a wave of relief knowing she was going to recover. “I’m very grateful that I was able to help her, and from this experience, I’ve learned how important it is to spend time with family,” Rishi exclaimed.
His family members and relatives were also grateful for Rishi for taking the lead. “He showed up in an emergency in a way that left us all in awe. We were all grateful that he was there and that he was inclined to help people and solve problems,” Anita said. Rishi and his family were glad that they had more time with his grandma.
Rishi Leung with his Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action Photo: American Red Cross
Reflecting on this experience, Rishi believes this was a transformative experience that reshaped his perspective and taught him important lessons. He values every moment spent with his ‘Nanni’ (grandmother in Hindi) and has gained a newfound appreciation for emergency responders. “I’ve learned that being prepared and living in the moment are crucial,” Rishi emphasized. “It means a lot to me that my efforts were recognized, and I plan to become CPR-certified through the Red Cross.”
In recognition of his bravery, Rishi was awarded the Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action at the Presidio Golf Club on June 26, 2024. He has also initiated a machine learning project to monitor his grandma during meals, aiming to increase safety and bring awareness to eating habits. Lastly, Rishi encourages everyone to complete CPR training because “it can save a life, literally.”
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