Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012 was a very special day at Blue Hills Regional Technical School in Canton, because that was when a host of distinguished people honored student Robert James of Dedham, a junior studying Health Assisting, for saving a woman’s life two months ago using his CPR skills.

James was awarded the Heartsaver Hero Award by the American Heart/American Stroke Association (AHA) for his courageous and effective actions.

In September, James, who works part-time at Transitions of Dedham, an assisted living facility, was in the kitchen when one of his co-workers suddenly collapsed to the floor, clearly in serious physical distress. He immediately started performing CPR on her until emergency medical help arrived. Today, she is alive and well, thanks in large measure to James’ expert ministrations and quick thinking.

At the ceremony, which was filmed by Fox 25 and WBZ-TV News and held in one of the school’s Health Assisting classrooms with his 11th grade Health Assisting classmates looking on, were many dignitaries, administrators and staff from Blue Hills, as well as representatives of the AHA. Also in attendance were James’ proud parents, Bill and Janice.

In addition to being presented with a handsome plaque from the AHA by Senior Government Relations Director Allyson Perron, James was given citations from the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Massachusetts State Senate from State Rep. William Galvin (D-Canton) and State Senator Michael Rush (D-West Roxbury), respectively.  Both praised him warmly as James sat beaming in the audience flanked by his parents.

Perron also presented Blue Hills Regional Superintendent James P. Quaglia with a plaque to recognize the school for teaching CPR.

James had a chance to demonstrate his remarkable poise yet again when he was asked several questions about his heroics by a member of the TV crew as they filmed him standing at a podium in front of the audience. 

Even now, weeks after the incident, James sounds ecstatic when he recalls phoning his mother after his colleague had been transported to the hospital with the thrilling news that he had saved her life.

Joining in the commemoration of James’ great deed were the faculty of the Health Assisting program at Blue Hills Sue Baker, Deborah Noe, and David Tapper (Brenda Neret was not present); Director of Vocational Programs Dick Brennen; Academic Director Jill Rossetti; Vocational Resource aides Linda Diskin and Ed

Doyle; Guidance Counselor Sarah England; Blue Hills Regional District School Committee Chairman Joseph Pascarella of Dedham; and Communications Specialist Judy Bass, who was master of ceremonies.

From the American Heart / American Stroke Association were Ms. Perron; David Day, Vice President of Government Relations and Public Health; David Hiltz, Account Manager for Emergency Cardio Care Programs; and George Murphy, Community CPR Manager.

To learn more about Blue Hills Regional Technical School, visit www.bluehills.org.