Red Cross honors Pirate security employee for saving co-worker from choking
American Red Cross officials honored a security employee for the Pittsburgh Pirates whose quick thinking helped save a life during his first day on the job this summer.
Patrick Benedict was working his first shift as game-day security at PNC Park on June 7 when he noticed a co-worker choking on a hot dog.
“Benedict jumped into action, performing abdominal thrusts until pieces of hot dog dislodged,” Red Cross officials said in a statement.
Benedict’s intervention took place about a year after he received Red Cross training in CPR, AED and first aid.
American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania CEO Jorge Martinez presented Benedict with the organization’s highest civilian honor, the Lifesaving Award, during the Pirates’ home game on Friday.
“In my time with the Red Cross, I’ve learned that heroes are all around us — but it takes a special person to step forward and act quickly and decisively in a crisis,” Martinez said. “We commend Patrick for stepping up in an emergency and using his Red Cross training to help save a life.”
More than 2,000 people across the U.S. have been presented with the Red Cross Lifesaving Award.
To nominate a lifesaver, see LifesavingAwards.org or RedCross.org.
Patrick Varine is a TribLive reporter covering Delmont, Export and Murrysville. He is a Western Pennsylvania native and joined the Trib in 2010 after working as a reporter and editor with the former Dover Post Co. in Delaware. He can be reached at pvarine@triblive.com.
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