By Alana Mauger

The Board of Supervisors and Fire Department of Montgomery Township joined the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region to celebrate the lifesaving efforts of Justin Tohanczyn on March 24th in North Wales.

Delaware Valley Chapter Executive Director Lynn Cohen presented Justin with a Red Cross Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action – an award given to individuals and teams who step up in an emergency and help save or sustain a life.

“You may know Justin as a first responder who serves the community as an EMT and volunteer battalion chief with the fire department. But tonight, he’s being recognized for the actions he took as a citizen when he helped save a man’s life on a Royal Caribbean Cruise ship,” Cohen said to the Township Board of Supervisors and those in attendance last Monday night.

Shortly after leaving the Cape Canaveral cruise terminal on Dec. 12, 2023, a fellow passenger went into cardiac arrest in the hallway just a few cabins away from where Justin and his wife Casey were staying.

Hearing the medical call, Justin went into the hallway where Pete, a cruise ship entertainer, was performing CPR on an unresponsive 58-year-old man. Justin helped with CPR, cleared the man’s airway and gathered medical history.

After the ship’s medical team arrived, Justin continued to help by applying an AED and providing oxygen. A shock was delivered from the AED, and responders began to notice improvements in the man’s vitals.

A few hours after the man was transported to the ship’s medical center, Justin and Pete stopped by to find him sitting up and talking with his family. The doctor introduced them and explained their lifesaving actions. The man was later flown to a hospital in Miami where he had surgery and received a pacemaker.

“Justin, you exemplify the mission of the American Red Cross to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies, and it’s my honor to commend you for your willingness to help someone in distress by presenting you with this Red Cross Lifesaving Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action,” said Cohen.

Justin’s wife Casey nominated him for the Red Cross Lifesaving Award. When Montgomery Township Fire Chief Bill Wiegman learned about Justin’s action, he drafted a resolution that was voted on and presented at the Board of Supervisors meeting alongside the Red Cross. Many of the Township’s first responders were on hand to recognize Justin for his lifesaving action.

Red Cross Lifesaving Awards program

The Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action is given to individuals or teams who step up in an emergency and help save or sustain a life. It is one of four awards given as part of the Red Cross Lifesaving Awards program. To nominate and recognize a person or group who has taken action to save or sustain a life, visit LifesavingAwards.org.