Danvers Recreation Staffers Honored For Saving Choking Victim

DANVERS, MA — Danvers Recreation Department staffers were recently honored for how they put their first-aid skills to use in an emergency.

First responders from the Danvers Fire Department, Danvers Police Department and Cataldo Ambulance presented Sam Desmarais and Rebecca Thorpe with a special citation for their efforts in saving the life of a person in danger of choking to death.

Deputy Fire Chief Brian Barry, Officer Jason Skane and Capts. Ashly Sanborn and Phil Tansey were on hand for the ceremony honoring Desmarais and Thorpe, along with first responders from Cataldo Ambulance.

Recreation staff members Shannon Cioffi, Braylen Hosler and Cameron White were also recognized with a special citation for their actions in helping a camper suffering from a leg injury in the Holten Richmond Middle School gymnasium.

Recreation Director David Mountain told Patch one of the Cataldo first responders said at the ceremony: "No doubt, the staff's quick and professional response saved a life."

Mountain said the staff reacted and used their skills exactly how they were trained to do.

"When designing a Recreation program we always plan activities that are age-appropriate and fun for all," Mountain said, "but at the core of all of our program planning is safety.

"These accidents do not happen often but in these two incidents this summer it was great to see our staff do such an outstanding job, and we are so very lucky to have them, and we are thankful everyone is going to be OK."

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)