Lazaro Aleman news@greenepublishing.com Kevin Harvin, a guidance counselor at Aucilla Christian Academy, recently received recognition for his lifesaving heroics. Harvin was presented with the lifesaver award by Jefferson County Fire Rescue Chief Derrick Burrus at a brief ceremony before the Jefferson County Commission on Thursday, Aug. 21. As Burrus related the incident that earned Harvin the award, the latter was sitting poolside at a Fourth of July event when he noticed a 10-year-old girl who was swimming go under and not resurface. Quick to act, Harvin jumped in the water, pulled the girl out of the pool and proceeded to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation, saving her life. “Had he not been there, the outcome would have been different,” Burrus said. “He saved her life. There's no doubt about that. By the time that the ambulance arrived, the girl was awake and talking.” Typically given to first responders, this version of the lifesaver award was specifically meant for civilians who performed heroic acts. It was the second such award that his department had presented, he said. The lifesaver award is intended to recognize individuals, particularly firefighters and first responders, who act swiftly and alertly to save lives in crisis situations. The award is an acknowledgement that the heroism exhibited went beyond a responder’s regular duties and involved the risk of potential loss of life. The actions for which the award is typically given include rescuing someone from a fire, performing CPR or administering an automated external defibrillator in cases of cardiac arrest. Other criteria considered in the award include promptness and alertness in the action, the presence of imminent danger, and having a successful outcome.
