SCOUT BECOMES LOCAL HERO TEEN USES HIS CPR TRAINING TO TRY TO SAVE A NEIGHBOR'S LIFE.

Byline: Angela Randazzo Staff Writer

SANTA PAULA - Eagle Scout Brian Hernandez recently received a Medal of Merit for using the cardiopulmonary resuscitation training that he learned in sixth grade and in Scouting.

Last December, Hernandez got a panicked call at home from a neighbor, Anne Loraine Qualls, whose mother - affectionally known as ``Grandma Rita'' - was in full cardiac arrest. Qualls had called 911, but also reached out to her neighbors.

``The next thing I remember was Brian running up the stairs to the bedroom where my mother was,'' Qualls said. ``He tried to get her pulse, then stared CPR. He did chest compressions and mouth (to mouth). Brian was at it for three minutes or longer.

``By the time the paramedics came she had a pulse. I was really out of it and I can only remember Brian was there.''

Ironically, firefighter Kevin Fildes, who teaches CPR to all sixth-graders in Santa Paula and had taught the technique to Hernandez, responded to the call.

``When I was learning CPR in the sixth-grade, I thought I'd never need it,'' he said. ``But you never know when you're going to need it.''

Paramedics and emergency room physician Dr. Jeffery Tubbs, of Santa Paula Memorial Hospital, credited Hernandez with resuscitating the woman. Although she later died in the hospital, her family was grateful for his efforts that extended her life and gave the family the time they needed to together and say goodbye.

As a Cub Scout, Hernandez received several years of first aid and CPR training. His mother, Barbara, who is also his den mother, arranged for health care providers to attend meetings each year so the Scouts could keep their skills up to date.

``Brian kept a level head while everyone else was panicking,'' she said. ``I'm very proud of him.''

For his lifesaving efforts, Hernandez received the Medal of Merit during a Court of Honor ceremony for Boy Scouts of America Troop 305 held last week at the First Baptist Church in Santa Paula.

The Medal of Merit is awarded by the National Court of Honor to Scouts who put into practice skills and ideals of Scouting by doing some great act of service. Two or three are given in Ventura County annually. Hernandez is the first Santa Paula Scout to ever receive the award.

Hernandez, who is junior at Santa Paula Union High school, was also recognized by the school's District Board of Trustees during last week's meeting at City Hall.

``It just happened and I did what needed to be done,'' he said. ``It feels good to help.''

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Eagle Scout Brian Hernandez holds up the certificate he received for his great service in attempting to save a life with CPR.