WISCASSET, JUNE 9, 2023 Maine Man Honored with National Red Cross Lifesaving Award

Maine Man Honored with National Red Cross Lifesaving Award
Sam Richards uses Red Cross lifeguard/CPR training to save father during choking incident
WISCASSET, JUNE 9, 2023 — On January 3, 2023, Sam Richards, 21, of Bristol, called on his American Red
Cross training in Lifeguard, First Aid and CPR to save his father’s life. The two men were sitting down for a steak
dinner when Todd Richards jokingly took a large bite of meat, never intending to swallow it. The steak became
lodged in his throat and he began choking. He threw a fork at his son to get his attention before he fell
unconscious, stopped breathing and had an undetectable pulse for several minutes. Sam Richards, who was Red
Cross trained in lifesaving skills, sprang into action. After several unsuccessful attempts at abdominal thrusts, he
knew is only option was to clear his father’s airway. Miraculously, he was able to get his fingertips on a tiny corner
of the steak and pulled until he dislodged it. His mother called 911 – and Sam successful performed CPR until his
father eventually began breathing on his own.
“I would have died. Sam flat out saved my life,” said Todd Richards. “It’s overwhelming for all the right reasons –
and at the same time, I feel horrible that I put him through that. I’m certainly glad he had the training.”
Sam grew up at the Wiscasset Community Center, starting in swim
lessons as a toddler and progressing through the competitive swim
program. He then got his Red Cross Lifeguarding Certification.
Though he never became a lifeguard, the skills he learned in that
course, saved his father’s life. After the incident, his lifeguarding
instructor and swim coach, Lori LaPointe, nominated Sam for a
national Red Cross Lifesaving Award.
“Sam came to me the next day after he did this heroic thing, and he
was very teary-eyed. He said, ‘I feel so lucky to have this opportunity
to save my father’s life – and that only happened because I took the
class that you encouraged me to take.’ That is hands-down the most
rewarding thing that’s ever happened to me here at the community
center,” said LaPointe, Wiscasset Community Center aquatics
director.
Red Cross Central and Mid Coast Maine Executive Director Sophie
Piconi presented Sam, a student at Brandeis University, with the
American Red Cross Certificate of Merit at the Wiscasset
Community Center pool earlier this week.
The Certificate of Merit is the highest award given by the Red Cross to individuals who save or sustain a life using
skills learned in a Red Cross Training Services course. It is signed by the President of the United States. These
individuals exemplify the mission of the Red Cross to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of
emergencies and are to be commended for their willingness to help others in distress.
“At one point, I thought we had done everything that could be done. I felt like maybe we had lost Todd, but Sam
never gave up,” said Sarah Richards, Sam’s mother. “I couldn’t be any more proud of my son. It was amazing. His
Red Cross training saved a life right in front of my eyes – and it was his training that kept Sam so calm.”
“On behalf of the American Red Cross, we are all extremely proud of Sam for his courage under extreme
pressure. He put his training into action. No one ever expects to need a hero, but when emergencies strike, we
are sure glad they’re out there. Please join us in recognizing Sam Richards for his heroic and lifesaving actions,”
said Piconi.