Red Cross recognizes lifesaving effort at Cranberry Twp. meeting
“I didn’t even have to think about it,” said Olivia Schzure, a lifeguard on duty at Cranberry Community Waterpark who was part of the team responsible for saving a 12-year-old boy from drowning in June. “I just did what I knew to do, and everyone else responded to it perfectly.”
Schzure along with lifeguards Greta Schmidt, Garrett Shreve, Paige Welch and their Red Cross instructor David Hutner were recognized Thursday, Feb. 1, for their actions by the American Red Cross Southwestern Pennsylvania chapter for their roles in the June 19, 2023, incident.
“There was a 12-year-old boy who was able to go home that night,” Hutner said. “This was a true drowning scenario. The fact is, things could have gone very differently, but our staff did their job that day.”
During the Cranberry Township supervisors meeting Thursday, the team was honored with a “Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders,” a national program that recognizes trained professional responders and health care professionals acting while on duty.
Jorge Martinez, the chief executive officer of the American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania, presented the award to the team. Martinez called the lifeguards heroes.
“If you think of the enormity of what happened that day, there was a life saved,” Martinez said. “There’s a brother and a son who lives today because of the heroic actions of these four young individuals.”
“This award has been around since 1911 in various forms,” Martinez said. “Since the award has been revamped in 2018, we’ve given out the award worldwide to about 26,000 individuals who saved nearly 1,500 lives.”
Hutner, who is also assistant director of Cranberry Township Parks and Recreation, was recognized for his role in training and managing the lifeguard staff.
“David does a tremendous job of preparing his people for the worst situations,” said supervisors chairman Mike Manipole.
