# @americanredcross on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DVHPMqJFn_l
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/72587744-americanredcross-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/41d7601f74.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-02-23T20:01:33.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** American Red Cross (@americanredcross) — https://gondola.cc/americanredcross

## Caption

One minute, Tom Koellhoffer was checking in to swim at his local YMCA, and the next, he was waking up in the hospital. He had gone into cardiac arrest.

“I don’t remember coming here or changing into my suit," Tom said. "I don’t remember a thing about that day."

But the lifeguards who saved his life remember it well. While on duty, Jodie Hart noticed Tom up against the pool wall — and he looked blue. Ruth Clement was off duty but happened to be in the water that day. Both sprang into action.

Ruth realized Tom didn’t have a pulse. Jodie began CPR while another staff member called 911 and grabbed an AED. Jodie and Kai Butcher, the lifeguard working in the health and wellness center, took turns performing CPR for nearly 20 minutes until first responders arrived.

“In the moment, you don’t have time to cry —  you just have to keep going,” Jodie said. “And then when he left [in the ambulance], I cried for a really long time.”

Thanks to their tremendous teamwork, Tom survived. Lifeguards are recertified in CPR and first aid every two years, and Jodie and Kai had completed their own recertification just a few weeks before Tom’s cardiac arrest.

The RedCrossPhilly presented Jodie, Ruth and Kai with Lifesaving Awards for their heroic actions that day. We are so grateful to all lifeguards and to everyone who learns lifesaving skills to protect their community and loved ones.

#HeartMonth #CPR #LearnCPR #CPRSavesLives #LifesavingAward

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 136
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- **Comments:** 4

## Tags

lifesavingaward, cpr, learncpr, cprsaveslives, heartmonth

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