Pool staff jumped into action when a student athlete collapsed at the Auburn School District Pool on March 5.

Their efforts, along with those of an Auburn Police officer, likely saved the teen’s life.

Staff members and the officer will be recognized at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 17 at the pool, 516 Fourth St. NE. Valley Regional Fire Authority (VRFA) Deputy Chief Dave Larberg will present the individuals with the organization’s Life Saving Award for their actions, which culminated in the successful resuscitation of a 16-year old girl.

A short ceremony will include speakers from the school district, VRFA and the mother of the teen who was saved. The firefighters who responded to the incident will be present, along with a representative from King County Medic One.

The incident is a reminder that early CPR does save lives. According to the American Heart Association, CPR can double or triple a person’s chance of survival if administered immediately after cardiac arrest. In this case, school district pool staff witnessed the collapse and immediately took action: calling 911, starting two-person CPR and acquiring the school district’s automatic external defibrillator. An Auburn Police officer arrived shortly after and helped administer CPR.

“Those who took action in this case did exactly what we teach in our CPR courses. We couldn’t have asked for a better team effort or outcome,” Larberg said.