Photo By Lance Cpl. Kasey Peacock | Chuck Miller, right, reads a citation to Robert J. Bamm III, middle, during an award...... read more read more
Subscribe
CAMP KINSER, Japan - As brave men and women across the world continue to save lives, the American Red Cross continues to honor them. For more than 100 years, the American Red Cross has gone out of its way to recognize heroic achievements in the military community.
Robert J. Bamm III, a Camp Kinser Aquatic Center lifeguard, became one of those recognized when he was presented the American Red Cross Lifesaving Award for the Professional Responder March 13 at Camp Kinser.
He received the award for saving the life of a service member at the Camp Kinser Aquatic Center last summer. This was the first time the award has been presented on Okinawa.
To be eligible for the Professional Responder award, an individual must have used cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid or an automated external defibrillator to help someone in a life-threatening situation. The individual must also have been taught these techniques through American Red Cross training or by an American Red Cross-authorized provider.
“I didn’t sign up for this job because I thought it would be easy, I knew people’s lives could potentially be at stake,” said Bamm. “I remember seeing the other life guard already in the pool and hearing people screaming for help. I did what any lifeguard would do, I jumped in.”
During the award ceremony, members of the American Red Cross team on Okinawa, as well as the Camp Kinser Aquatic Center team, showed their support and gratitude for Bamm’s heroic efforts. Also in attendance was Brig. Gen. Craig C. Crenshaw, commanding general of 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, who presented Bamm with the award.
“It is a very scary and challenging thing when a situation turns from training to the real thing,” said Crenshaw. “On that day, this young man was a hero.”
Since the inception of the award in 1928, the American Red Cross has honored more than 12,000 individuals who have saved or sustained a life as a direct result of training given by the American Red Cross via its Health and Safety program.
“It is great to have our team here not only honoring a brave young man, but also acknowledging that the training the American Red Cross is providing is working,” said Hanna Forbes, marketing chair for the American Red Cross on Camp Foster.
Scott Burton, another lifeguard on the scene who helped resuscitate the victim, worked side-by-side with Bamm on that hot summer day a life was saved.
“While we are working, I can always trust Bamm to be able to do his job,” said Burton. “I know that whatever Bamm chooses to do in life, he will do it well.”
| Date Taken: | 03.09.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 03.15.2012 20:59 |
| Story ID: | 85325 |
| Location: | CAMP KINSER, OKINAWA, JP |
| Hometown: | DETROIT, MICHIGAN, US |
| Web Views: | 144 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Lifeguard uses Red Cross life-saving skills to resuscitate victim, by LCpl Kasey Peacock, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
