The CU-Boulder Police Department will present three Lifesaving Awards to students who recently revived an 80-year-old man who was choking in the Center for Community dining hall. The campus community is invited to a ceremony that honors Daniel Kotsides, Nathaniel Pohl and Justin Rouleau on Monday, Nov. 18 at 10 a.m. in the Kittredge Central Multipurpose Room. The Lifesaving Award is the highest CU Police honor presented to members of the public.
On the evening of Aug. 30, the victim’s son notified Rouleau, a C4C cook, that his father was choking. Rouleau immediately used the Heimlich maneuver, but the victim soon became unconscious. Rouleau placed the victim on the ground and began CPR. Pohl, a resident advisor who happened to be in the dining area, arrived and assisted with CPR compressions and rescue breaths. After about four minutes of CPR, the victim began to breathe again. Kotsides, a Police Department community safety official, quickly notified CU Police Dispatch to send paramedics. He then responded with an Automated External Defibrillator and deployed the device. Paramedics arrived shortly thereafter, and the victim survived.
“These three students saved this man’s life,” said Ron Burns, interim CU-Boulder police chief. “They relied on their past lifesaving training and acted quickly and heroically. Daniel, Justin and Nathaniel deserve our campus’ admiration for a job well done.”