American Red Cross Awards Four CSUSB Staffers One if its Highest Honors for Saving a Student's Life

Student Elena Palacios was working out at Cal State San Bernardino’s Student Wellness and Recreation Center on a September day, when she collapsed from a seizure. Seven months later, on Friday, March 4, a beaming Palacios stood at a podium at the Rec Center, thanking the four CSUSB staff members who worked together to immediately revive her and continued to render first aid until emergency medical technicians arrived to take her to the hospital. “I want to express my thanks and gratitude to them,” she said pausing midway in between tears of appreciation. “They’re the reason I’m still standing here.” Staff members Raul Gonzalez, Barry Green Jr., Patrick Bryan and Jannette Figueroa, who was unable to attend, were honored during a special ceremony by the American Red Cross and received its Lifesaving Award, one of its highest honors, which is given to an individual or team of individuals who saves and sustains life by using skills and knowledge learned in an American Red Cross Preparedness and Health and Safety Services course. Gonzalez, who is the center’s operations, logistics and safety coordinator as well as a CSUSB alumnus, became certified to give the course and subsequently trained Bryan and Figueroa, both kinesiology majors. Gonzalez also trained Green, who is the center’s fitness and wellness coordinator. Yevette Ramos, the executive director of the American Red Cross of San Bernardino County, called the four “heroes” and praised them as a “shining example of what the Red Cross does and stands for.” Brian Haynes, the vice president for CSUSB Student Affairs, congratulated the four. “Here at CSUSB, we transform – we shape the leaders of tomorrow by providing them the proper level of education and training to be successful in life,” he said. “And as a result, we instill a mindset and set of values in our students that aren’t afraid to take risks or to take action and in this case, save a life. The training provided to our Rec and Wellness team, by the American Red Cross was crucial and served to be paramount on September 17th of last year. On that day, the Wellness and Rec team demonstrated what it means to be a Coyote by exuding Coyote P.R.I.D.E – Power, Responsibility, Integrity, Determination and Enthusiasm.” Palacios was working out when she had a seizure and hit her head when she collapsed. The four staff members responded and began performing CPR when she showed no signs of life. One of the four brought out the center’s Automated External Defibrillator, applied its pads to her chest and turned it on, delivering a shock. They continued applying CPR and Palacios was transported to a nearby hospital. Palacios said she was put under a medically induced coma for three days. She later learned that she had a genetic heart problem and has since had several surgeries to control her arrhythmia. She is not currently in school as she regains her health. But when she returns, she will be going to the Student Wellness and Recreation Center. During the ceremony, Palacios was presented with a lifetime membership to the center. “I’m loving it,” she said.