A young girl from Island Park is now certified to save lives.

Abigail Lopez, 8, completed her CPR certification earlier this month at the American Heart Association in Freeport.

Her mother, Jessica Lopez, had just completed her certifications to volunteer at the local fire department, and Abigail insisted on partaking as well.

The aspiring surgeon’s dream transpired last year when her mother told her family about how she saved a man’s life in a bank when she observed him choking and vomiting. With her experience in working at Mount Sinai South Nassau, Jessica was confident she could help open his airway while the paramedics came.

That was when Abigail said she wanted to save lives too and follow her mother’s footsteps in health care.

Abigail was the only child in her class, but followed her motto - “I can do this.” She says that with 350 million cardiac arrests happening each year, she wants to be a part of the reason the 10% survive.

The Island Park mother-daughter duo says they hope to see people of all ages engaging in these trainings, as it’s not only a skill but a gift to have.