Fort Smith Boy Scouts Receive Honor Medal For Saving Man’s Life

Ten scouts from the Fort Smith Boy Scout Troop received the Honor Medal, the organization’s second-highest medal Sunday.

The scouts helped save a man’s life after one of their advisers, Ric Cooper, had a heart attack while the group was camping in June in New Mexico. The scouts performed CPR and used their wilderness training to get to the nearest campsite to summon help.

They were then able to provide coordinates to paramedics so a medical rescue team could reach Cooper.

“”I guess it’s the old Boy Scout ‘be prepared,’ ” Cooper said. “Well, they certainly were prepared, and I appreciate obviously what they did to me and for me.”

Cooper said he is regaining his strength and expects to be hiking again soon.

The troop members were treated to lunch during the award ceremony. Fort Smith Mayor Sandy Sanders proclaimed the day was in the scouts’ honor and congratulated them for their hard work.