Wauconda Resident, 16, Presented with Sheriff’s Citizens Lifesaving Award

A 16-year-old Wauconda girl who jumped into action and provided CPR for a man who was having a seizure was presented with a Citizen’s Lifesaving Award.

Megan R. Ringel is the youngest person to receive the highest honor a citizen can get from the McHenry County Sheriff’s office.

Ringel was at a friend’s McHenry house on Friday, August 16, around 9:20 p.m. when she heard people yelling for help, according to a sheriff’s press release.

She ran over and saw a 34-year-ol man, who has a history of seizures, not breathing. Ringel sprang into action and began performing CPR, the release stated. She had been trained in CPR in Girl Scouts and through a babysitting class.

Most recently, she also participated in CPR training in her health class at Wauconda High School.

Using her training, she gave the victim chest compressions, then repositioned the victim’s head to open the airway, and gave three rescue breaths, the release stated. The victim then began what appeared to be choking.  Rescue personnel arrived and transported the victim for medical treatment.

Due to Ringel’s quick thinking and life saving actions, the victim survived. The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office presented her the award this week.