'I just reacted': Puebloan Amanda Cesar honored for lifesaving actions

BY JAMES BARTOLO | The Pueblo Chieftain | DEC. 2, 2022

Jumping from her seat to perform lifesaving maneuvers on a colleague during a "scary" incident in June was second nature for Amanda Cesar, deputy director of Pueblo County Parks and Recreation.

Cesar will receive recognition from the American Red Cross at its Colorado Holiday Gala in Colorado Springs on Dec. 9, six months after helping Larry Romero, assistant general manager of Runyon Sports Complex, regain consciousness after he seemingly aspirated water and collapsed during an interview session.

Cesar also received a Lifesaving Award from Pueblo County government Tuesday morning.

While interviewing candidates for an open position at Runyon Field Sports Complex in June, Romero was taking a short break from the session and after taking a drink from a water bottle, he laughed at a joke a colleague made.

Amanda Cesar, deputy director of the Pueblo County Parks and Recreation, stands with Larry Romero, assistant general manager of the Runyon Sports Complex, in fornt of the Life Saving Awards Cesar received from the Pueblo County government.[James Bartolo]He soon began to choke. His face turned purple and he collapsed. Five others, including Cesar, were in the room.

"We're all sometimes put in that situation, but it takes that special person to jump in ... I was very happy that (Cesar) was around," Romero said.

First aid, CPR and AED certified since she was a teenager, Cesar's response was immediate. She administered abdominal thrusts, commonly known as the Heimlich maneuver, to clear Romero's airway and he regained consciousness after about 45 seconds.

American Medical Response arrived shortly thereafter and cleared Romero without needing to take him to an emergency medical facility.

"I had other experiences with CPR and others in the room had not," Cesar said. "When the time came, it was second nature. Through my training and years of doing it, I just reacted."

Cesar was a certified peace officer for 11 years. While she has experience administering first aid in the past, Romero's June collapse was the first time she used the abdominal thrust maneuver.

In addition to her experience as a peace officer, Cesar worked for Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the city of Pueblo before becoming deputy director of Pueblo County Parks and Recreation.

Cesar's Lifesaving Award certificate and triphy from the Pueblo County government. [James Bartolo]