Ridgewood Man Given Red Cross Lifesaving Award

RIDGEWOOD, NJ – Six Bergen County residents were honored by the American Red Cross for helping to save a man who nearly drowned at Hackensack UMC Fitness and Wellness last fall.

During a special ceremony on Wednesday, the Red Cross handed out five Lifesaving Awards for Professional Responders and two Certificates of Extraordinary Personal Action.

The recipients are:

• Alvin Abarquez of Teaneck: Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders
• Katelyn Vecchiarelli of Lodi: Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders
• Nicholas Recarte of Hackensack: Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders
• Vasiliki Torunidis of Montclair: Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders
• Christian Delliveneri of Ridgewood: Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders
• James Miastkowski of Maywood: Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action
• Tracy Kerns of Teaneck: Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action

According to the Red Cross:

On Oct. 15, 2019, Alvin Abarquez, Katelyn Vecchiarelli, Nicholas Recarte, Vasiliki Torunidis, Christian Delliveneri, James Miastkowski and Tracy Kerns helped to sustain the life of George Makris when he was passive in the water of the pool at Hackensack UMC Fitness and Wellness. George entered the pool and appeared to start swimming, but then turned toward the steps and started floating on his back. He soon turned face down in the water and started to sink.

Lifeguard Abarquez, blew his whistle and entered the water. Alvin took hold of George and carried him toward the steps. Fellow Lifeguard Delliveneri pulled the emergency chord and went to assist, while Lifeguard Recarte grabbed the float and assisted with extracting George from the water.

Head Lifeguard Vecchiarelli alerted emergency staff by contacting 9-1-1. Facility Nurse Kerns arrived on the scene with the code bag, and Personal Trainer Torunidis also ran to assist on the scene and all were joined by Personal Training Manager Miastkowski with the AED.

Alvin had extracted George from the water and Nurse Kerns took control and began to assess George, who was no longer responsive. Tracy and James promptly conducted chest compressions and rescue breathes while the AED was set up. Vasiliki read aloud the information displayed on the AED prior to each directed shock.

Emergency Medical Services arrived shortly after and transported George to the hospital for further treatment.

Without a doubt, the skills learned in the American Red Cross Training Services course and the actions taken by these individuals helped to sustain George’s life. For their actions, Leslie Adelman Banks nominated all for American Red Cross Lifesaving Awards.

During Wednesday’s ceremony, Rosie Taravella, CEO, American Red Cross New Jersey Region, said, “These are some 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.”

She told the honorees: “Your action exemplifies the highest degree of concern of one human being for another who is in distress. We commend you all for your actions.”

“I urge more people to take American Red Cross Training Services courses in life-saving skills like first aid and CPR,” Taravella added. “Red Cross training gives you the knowledge and skills to act in an emergency and potentially save a life, just as this team has done.”

The Red Cross has 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, visit LifesavingAwards.org