Portland Public Schools

Rivkah Zigman receives her award at a Red Cross Cascades Region board meeting.

Rivkah Zigman receives her award at a Red Cross Cascades Region board meeting.

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A Wilson High School senior was honored for her efforts in saving a woman’s life last summer. Rivkah Zigman received the Red Cross Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders last week at a ceremony during an American Red Cross Cascades Region board meeting. 

In July, Rivkah was volunteering in Israel with United Hatzalah, an emergency medical services organization. She and fellow responders were sent to help an unresponsive 60-year-old woman. Rivkah applied an automated external defibrillator (AED) and helped give CPR for almost 30 minutes. The woman regained her pulse and survived.

“Having someone go from absolutely lifeless when you walk into the door to having them have their pulse come back right under your own hands, it’s a life-changing experience, honestly,” she said in an interview with KGW.

Rivkah was able to apply the training she received in first aid, CPR and AED during a course with the Red Cross Cascades Region held at Wilson two year ago. The Lifesaving Award is considered among the highest given by the Red Cross.

“We’re extremely proud to present a Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders to Rivkah," said Dale Kunce, CEO of the Red Cross Cascades Region. “Her actions exemplify our mission to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.”

The lifesaving effort by Rivkah and fellow teen volunteer Sam Blech of Teaneck, N.J., made news in Israel, with a story in the Jerusalem Post.