Carson High student honored with rare Naval Junior Reserve Officers merit award
A Carson High School senior and cadet with the Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Crops received a rare merit award Wednesday in Carson City after he applied a life saving technique he learned as a cadet three years ago.
Christopher Soderstrom, 17, saved the life of his father Clay on June 12 by performing the Heimlich maneuver when he found his father choking on a piece of meat. The emergency technique is used when a person's airway (windpipe) becomes blocked by a piece of food or other object.
The cadet, who was taught the technique his freshmen year of NJROTC by Lt. Cmdr. Freddie Jones, was honored Wednesday by the Carson Council of the Navy League United States.
It had been more than 10 years since the NJROTC, which has around 60 units in the region, has awarded the Cadet Meritorious Achievement Award, which was presented to Christopher by Command Master Chief David Bisson.
"Demonstrating exceptional recall of the mechanics of the Heimlich maneuver, innate courage and confidence, Cadet Soderstrom saved his father's life," said Cmd. Bisson. "Cadet Soderstrom's extraordinary execution, prompt action and great ability to perform calmly under pressure reflected great credit upon himself, his unit, his school and the Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps."
Soderstrom said it was the first time he had ever used the maneuver and hadn't really given much thought to it since he was taught the technique along with CPR when he was a freshmen cadet.
"I saw what was happening and knew what I had to do because there wasn't a lot of time," said Christopher.
The night it happened, Christopher and his father had returned from a church fundraiser. Clay Soderstrom is the vice principal and teacher at Bethlehem Lutheran Church and School.
Both were eating dinner in separate rooms when Clay Soderstrom began to choke, placing both hands to his neck and unable to breath or make a sound.
"When the food went down, I knew it went deeper than I had ever experienced before. My first thought was 'this isn't good.' My wife, Kellie, saw what happened, tried to assist and then she called out for Christopher to help. He did two thrusts, one dislodging it, and the second where it popped out. I was able to cough with some gag reflex and that was it. It lasted maybe 45 seconds. Christopher made sure I was OK and then went back to finish his dinner as if nothing happened. That's when I went to him and thanked him for doing what he did. He acted heroically. He saved my life."
Christopher said his involvement in NJROTC has been a great experience for him, learning skills along the way such as the Heimlich and CPR, that he can use for a lifetime. He plans to enroll at Western Nevada College next fall after high school and then go on to the University of Idaho to study architecture.
With his reserved, quiet disposition, Christopher hadn't told anyone of the event. It was father who mentioned it to Lt. Cmdr. Freddie Jones, the cadet chief petty officer at Carson High.
"We were talking and I asked if Christopher told him about his summer. He said that Christopher mentioned that he had gone on a trip. I said, 'he didn't tell you about how he saved my life?" He looked at me and said 'No. What are you talking about?' and I explained what happened."
The Soderstroms — Christopher, Clay and Kellie — were then asked to attend the dinner Wednesday evening, not knowing about the award.
"We are honored to be a part of this presentation of the award in honoring the cadet for his heroic actions," said Dennis Johnson of the Carson Council of the Navy League.
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