On March 11, 2019, during lunch at West Noble High School, a student began to choke. A fellow student, Titus Allard, noticed and rushed over to help. Allard performed abdominal thrusts until the student could resume breathing.

The American Red Cross awarded Titus Allard the Certificate of Extraordinary Action, which is given to individuals who step up in an emergency and help save or sustain a life.

“If Allard did not act so quickly, the outcome of this situation could have been significantly worse,” said Katherine MacAulay, executive director of the American Red Cross, Northeast Indiana chapter. “Recipients of these lifesaving awards exemplify the mission of the Red Cross to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies. They are to be commended for their willingness to help others in distress.”

Get Trained

The Red Cross hopes that Allard’s quick actions will encourage others to get emergency response training. Red Cross training gives people the knowledge and skills to act in an emergency and save a life. A variety of online, blended (online and in-person skills session) and classroom courses are available at redcross.org/takeaclass.

Nominate Someone

If you or someone you know has used skills and knowledge learned in an American Red Cross Training Services course to help save or sustain the life of another individual, visit LifesavingAwards.org to nominate, recognize, or be inspired.

About the Indiana Region:

The Indiana Region serves 87 Indiana counties consisting of six Red Cross chapters: Central Indiana (Indianapolis headquarters), Northern Indiana (South Bend headquarters), Northeast Indiana (Fort Wayne headquarters), Northwest (Merrillville headquarters), Southern Indiana (Evansville headquarters) and West Central Indiana (Terre Haute headquarters). For more information on the Indiana Region: www.redcross.org/local/in. Follow the Indiana Region at https://www.facebook.com/INRedCross and @INRedCross on Twitter.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.