CLARKSVILLE, TN – Petty Officer 2nd Class Kristian Mathis, a native of Clarksville, is one of four sailors awarded the Red Cross National Life Saving Award during a ceremony in San Diego on April 19.

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Classes Deandre McKenzie, Kristian Mathis, Brett Delia and Ian Villones, assigned to the USS Boxer, were honored for administering lifesaving CPR during a medical emergency on Feb. 7, 2022.

When the corpsmen arrived at the scene, a contractor was found unconscious with blood around their head. The sailors assessed the patient was under cardiac arrest and immediately began CPR.

Mathis and McKenzie started chest compressions while Delia prepared the automated external defibrillator and Villones readied the oxygen. They inserted an air adjunct by opening the patient’s airway in order to administer oxygen with a mask.

“Being a basic lifesaving instructor for the command, I train weekly on this type of scenario,” said Mathis. “When it was time to actually perform CPR, I’m glad that it turned into muscle memory from the training I received. I was glad to pass it forward and help save the life of someone in need.”

As a team, the corpsmen rotated between administering CPR and assessing the patient for other injuries. They were able to resuscitate and stabilize the patient, who was transferred into the care of local emergency medical services and made a full recovery.

“I’m extremely proud of these young men,” said Lt. Cmdr. Paul Flood, Boxer’s senior medical officer. “Their quick reaction in the face of a life or death situation is a testament to their training, dedication and willingness to come to the aid of those in need.”