Red Cross honors 2 lifesavers during ceremonies at J-ADD
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Red Cross honors 2 lifesavers during ceremonies at J-ADD

December 27, 2018, 11:30 am Edit
From left, John Winer, executive director of the Jewish Association for Developmental Disabilities, Kadolia Dolson, David Jacobs, Yenis Mercedes, and Jocelyn Gilman, executive director of the American Red Cross of Northern New Jersey. (Courtesy American Red Cross)
From left, John Winer, executive director of the Jewish Association for Developmental Disabilities, Kadolia Dolson, David Jacobs, Yenis Mercedes, and Jocelyn Gilman, executive director of the American Red Cross of Northern New Jersey. (Courtesy American Red Cross)

The American Red Cross presented Kadolia Dolson and Yenis Mercedes with the Certificate of Merit during a Jewish Association for Developmental Disabilities Chanukah gathering on December 5 at the JCC of Paramus/Congregation Beth Tikvah.

Ms. Dolson and Ms. Mercedes, who both are J-ADD employees, used their American Red Cross CPR training to help save the life of David Jacobs of Paramus. They were honored for their heroic actions.

“We’re extremely proud to present a Certificate of Merit to Yenis and Kadolia,” Jocelyn Gilman, the executive director of the American Red Cross of Northern New Jersey, said. “Their actions exemplify our mission to help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.”

The Certificate of Merit is the American Red Cross’s highest award. It is given to people who save or sustain a life using skills they learned in a Red Cross Training Services course.

Last December, after they saw J-ADD client David Jacobs collapse and become unresponsive, Ms. Dolson and Ms. Mercedes performed CPR until emergency medical services arrived and took over. Mr. Jacobs was taken to the hospital, where he received medical care. He is alive today thanks in part to the two women’s quick actions.

Ms. Dolson and Ms. Mercedes were nominated by Cheryl Minkoff, J-ADD’s director of training.

“We congratulate Yenis and Kadolia on this recognition and appreciate their lifesaving actions,” John Winer, J-ADD’s executive director, said. “As a result, David will tell you himself, ‘I’m not sick, I’m very much alive!’”

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.

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 a life, go to LifesavingAwards.org to nominate, recognize, or be inspired. For more information, go to redcross.org.

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