As published in Missouri Parks & Recreation
Summer 2008
Kyle Henke, Aquatic Supervisor for the City of Clayton, had his lifesaving skills put to the test when a member of the Clayton High School's swim team stopped breathing during a routine practice in the competition pool. Upon hearing the signal to help, Kyle immediately hurried to the location of the incident. A female team member had been swimming and getting out of the pool to take a break when she sat down and fell backwards. She was unable to speak and was breathing heavily. Kyle tasked the head lifeguard to call EMS. As the girl began to lose consciousness and had difficulty breathing, Kyle asked the lifeguard to give him the breathing mask out of his pack. Kyle assembled the mask, tilted her head back and gave one breath. Immediately the swimmer started coughing and was soon able to speak. Paramedics arrived and gave the girl a clean bill of health. Thanks to Kyle's actions, the girl is alive, well and swimming today.
Kyle Henke has worked professionally in aquatics for over 16 years and as a full-time aquatic professional for over 7 of those years. He has spent the past five years with the City of Clayton Parks and Recreation Aquatic Department and is currently the Aquatic Supervisor. Kyle graduated from South East Missouri State University in 2001 with a Masters in Health and Fitness Administration. In all of Kyle's years in aquatics he was never called upon to use his training to save a life until the Winter of 2006.
For this act, Kyle Henke has received the American Red Cross Lifesaving Award for the Professional Responder and the Certificate of Merit Award. The Certificate of Merit is the highest award issued by the American Red Cross to an individual or team of individuals who save or sustain the life of another person(s) as a direct result of Red Cross training in the areas of first aid, CPR, aquatics, or water safety. Certificates of Merit are signed by the President of the United States, the Honorary Chairman of the American Red Cross. In addition, Kyle was presented a medal of merit at the St. Louis Bi-State Red Cross Chapter. The City of Clayton is privileged to have Kyle Henke as part of their staff.