In a heartwarming ceremony on Tuesday morning, the Phoenix Fire Department, along with First District Councilwoman Ann O’Brien and the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department, presented Life Saving awards to the lifeguards and Cortez Pool aquatics staff. Their swift and heroic actions on a busy Memorial Day saved the life of a 4-year-old child found unconscious in the pool.
The awards ceremony, held at the Cortez Pool, celebrated the incredible bravery and quick thinking of the lifeguard team. Councilwoman Ann O’Brien expressed the community’s deep gratitude, stating, “Your bravery not only saved the life of a young girl but also reinforced the trust and confidence we have in our lifeguard team. Often, when we think of first responders, our minds immediately go to Police and Firefighters, but in our public pools, lifeguards are the first responders.”
Among the honored lifeguards was Desmi Cordell, in her fourth summer with the City of Phoenix. She played a key role in the rescue and attributed the team’s success to their rigorous training. “It really clicked, we all kind of went, ‘okay, you go here, you go there, okay go!’ And then we just immediately went into our action plan and did it successfully,” Cordell recounted. “It shows how much our training every Saturday really does kick in, and it just makes me happier knowing that we know how to do our job, we do our job every day and we can do it.”
Phoenix Fire Department Chief Mike Duran praised the lifeguards’ professionalism and dedication, highlighting the exceptional training provided by the city. “This goes back to the wonderful training that our parks and aquatics department provide[s] for our lifeguards,” Chief Duran noted. “They followed every step they were trained to do. Although they are young, this credit goes to the program that the City of Phoenix and aquatics department provides for our lifeguards and what they do.”
Chief Duran also acknowledged the crucial support from aquatics staff and supervisors, ensuring lifeguards are well-prepared for emergencies. “The teams that they develop and train, and the staff, managers, and supervisors who are out there watching and supporting these folks, make sure that our community is safe when they are here at the pool,” he added.
The Memorial Day incident is a powerful reminder of the critical role lifeguards play in our community. The quick actions and coordinated efforts of the Cortez Pool team not only saved a young life but also demonstrated the exceptional training and dedication of Phoenix’s lifeguards.
As summer continues and public pools remain bustling hubs of activity, the City of Phoenix underscores the importance of water safety and the indispensable presence of trained lifeguards. The community is encouraged to recognize and support these everyday heroes who work tirelessly to ensure the safety of all.
For more information on water safety and lifeguard training programs, residents can visit the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department website.
