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ARCHIVES

SY man’s lifesaving effort honored nationally

Staff report

Lifesaving efforts by a Santa Ynez Valley man and another senior officer at the Lompoc Federal Correctional Complex have earned them praise from U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.

Andrew Cruickshank and Jose Gonzalez received the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service after saving an inmate’s life by performing CPR for more than 15 minutes while waiting for paramedics to arrive, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Gonzalez and Cruickshank were two of 286 people honored Oct. 21 at the 57th Annual Attorney General Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Holder said in a written statement, “It is my privilege to honor these recipients for their outstanding service and commitment to our country. Each of these dedicated servants has carried out the important mission of the Department of Justice and has done so with excellence and distinction.”

In January, Cruickshank called for assistance at the Lompoc prison after inmates told him that a prisoner had stopped breathing. He administered shock treatment and began CPR while Gonzalez performed rescue breathing. Later, they repeated the shock treatment.

The officers continued the CPR on the unresponsive patient until paramedics arrived and revived the inmate with life-saving drugs.

The Department of Justice noted that in addition to saving a life, Gonzalez and Cruickshank’s actions inspired other prison staff to become certified in CPR.

Cruickshank teaches all Lompoc prison staff members how to perform CPR according to American Red Cross standards.

Both men were honored in April by the Lompoc Elks Lodge for their heroic actions.

They also received special recognition from Harley Lappin, director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, said Cruickshank’s wife Stephanie, and have been given valor citations from the offices of U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly, state Sen. Tony Strickland and Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee.

November 10, 2009