[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 33 (Friday, February 17, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E130]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING JAKE WOODARD'S BRAVERY AND HEROISM

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. BRIAN K. FITZPATRICK

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 17, 2023

  Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an 
outstanding constituent from my district, Jake Woodard. Late in the 
evening on the day after Christmas, with freezing temperatures, 
Pennsbury High School Junior, Jake Woodard's family was driving home 
from a holiday party. As they were driving, Jake, a certified lifeguard 
and member of Pennsbury's JROTC program, noticed a car had pulled over 
to the side and a man was lying on the ground. A woman was waving for 
help. Jake immediately demanded that his dad pull the car over so he 
could help.
  Jake got out of the car, and he immediately came to the aid of the 
man on the ground. Apparently, the man had been walking on the sidewalk 
and hit a large patch or ice that was about three inches thick and 
landed on his back, likely hitting his head on the ground.
  A woman and her son had seen the man and pulled over. However, as 
they were unsure how to help him, they waved down Jake's car for help. 
As the adults stood around questioning what to do, Jake took a knee and 
began speaking to the man by identifying himself and telling him he was 
there to help. The man told him his name and stated he had been on the 
ground for about 15 minutes. As the man was groaning in pain and 
stating that he couldn't move, Jake advised the man not to move. After 
a few minutes, the man lost consciousness, and as his eyes rolled to 
the back of his head, his tongue also rolled to the back of his throat. 
Jake reached into the man's mouth and cleared his airway to ensure he 
could properly breathe.
  As they waited for the EMTs to show up, Jake continued to take the 
man's pulse and repeatedly checked that the man was still breathing all 
while saying ``Dan, you are going to be okay, but you need to stay with 
us.''
  When the EMTs showed up, Jake immediately told them what had 
happened, how long he had been there, and included the rate of his 
pulse and breathing. As the EMTs stabilized the man's neck, Jake 
continued to speak to the unconscious man, Dan, telling him help was 
here, and that he needed to try and wake up.
  When the EMTs struggled to get the man onto the gurney because of the 
thick ice, they asked Jake to assist. He reached under the man's lower 
back and legs, and as best he could he kept him stable while assisting 
the man onto the gurney. The man never regained consciousness, but Jake 
made sure the man didn't move, was still breathing, and made sure he 
knew he wasn't alone.
  When it was all said and done, Jake's mom proudly hugged her son, and 
asked him how he knew what to do. He said lifeguarding taught him what 
to do and JROTC taught him why to do it, as he stated it was his duty 
to help.
  We are all incredibly grateful for the bravery and heroism of Jake 
Woodard and all that he does for our community.

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