UA professor receives an American Red Cross Acts of Courage Award
Heroes are not just characters who fly around in capes and spandex, fighting villains and rescuing damsels in distress. Sometimes, they wear helmets and travel by bike.
Kelli Chronister, director of clinical education and assistant professor of respiratory therapy at the School of Allied Health in the College of Health Professions, is the recipient of a 2016 Acts of Courage Award. She was honored by the American Red Cross of Summit, Portage and Medina counties for displaying bravery and heroism to save a life during a bike race.
Led resuscitation effort
In July 2015, Chronister was participating in the Sweet Corn Challenge bike ride and hike in Richfield, Ohio, when a man riding in front of her fell off his bike and onto the street. Thanks to her extensive training in respiratory therapy, Chronister recognized the signs of the man’s full-arrest heart attack, and she immediately administered CPR, rotating on and off with other riders to give him CPR.
When emergency personnel arrived on the scene, they said that without Chronister’s quick action, the man would have died. The victim was later diagnosed with a serious heart condition that required surgery.
Grateful for training
“I am grateful to have been surrounded by other riders trained in CPR and to have been able to lead an effort that saved a life,” says Chronister. “Immediate CPR can save the life of a person who can then be treated for heart disease and live a much longer and high quality life.”
In addition to her UA roles, Chronister holds many other titles — registered respiratory therapist, certified pulmonary function technologist, neonatal/pediatric specialist and basic life support instructor.
The March 3 ceremony where Chronister and nine others were honored marked the 20th anniversary of the event for the local Red Cross. The honorees are a mix of area residents and professionals who serve the community every day.
Story by Julie Mullet
Media contact: Lisa Craig, 330-972-7429 or lmc91@uakron.edu.
Kelli Chorister, left, with Rachel D’Attoma, executive director of the Summit, Portage and Medina Counties Chapter of the American Red Cross.