A family case manager (FCM) at the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) has received a top award from the American Red Cross for helping to save a 9-month-old boy from choking.
While conducting a supervised family visit in March, Howard County FCM Christian Lewis noticed the infant started to choke while eating a snack. As the child’s face began to turn blue, Lewis used his Red Cross first aid/CPR/AED training to dislodge the food, saving the baby from asphyxiation.
The American Red Cross Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders is the highest award given by the organization to an individual or team of individuals who saves or sustains a life by using skills and knowledge learned in an American Red Cross Training Services course. Sarah Moss, executive director of the Red Cross Central Indiana Chapter, presented the award to Lewis on Wednesday at the DCS Howard County office.
“It is a true testament of our mission to be able to present Christian with one of the highest honors the Red Cross awards, the Lifesaving Award,” Moss said. “We never truly know when an emergency is going to happen. With the skills Christian learned in his Red Cross training, he was able to act quickly and confidently and save the baby’s life. We are so proud to have been given the opportunity to recognize Christian for his heroic actions.”
DCS Director Eric Miller, MPA, MBA, said Lewis’ response is an example of how Hoosiers can help prevent child deaths.
“We are grateful not only that Christian was in the right place at the right time, but that he had the training necessary and acted quickly to help ensure that an Indiana family is together today instead of mourning a tragedy,” Miller said. “First aid training is just one of many ways we can focus on preventing child deaths in Indiana, and any Hoosier can be a partner in that effort.”
For more information about the American Red Cross Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED training, click here.
About Indiana DCS: The Indiana Department of Child Services leads the state’s response to allegations of child abuse and neglect and facilitates child support payments. We consider the needs and values of all we serve in our efforts to protect children while keeping families together whenever possible.