Let’s dip into the mailbag and be inspired by a few Good Samaritan stories from our ASHI and MEDIC First Aid instructors. Today we’ll focus on the heroic actions from some brave public servants.
Now, a picture paints a thousand words, but a video might do even more. You may have already discovered this viral video from the Ohio State Police that shows Trooper Eric Devers coming to the aid of a driver injured in a truck accident.
ASHI instructor Tracy Caudill in Morristown, TN, shared the following background about the star of this real-life scenario video that took place in April of this year:
“When [Trooper ] Eric [Devers] was 14 (about 10 years ago), I offered a free CPR course at church and his mother, a nurse, thought it was too good to pass up. She felt her children would need the skill one day. She was right and here is one of her children using those skills! In my phone conversation with him he thanked me for teaching him. He is so very sweet. He said "...Ma'am, I did everything you taught me to the letter."
In addition to municipal and state police personnel, we also find our everyday heroes among the officers in corrections facilities. ASHI instructor Laraye Bay with the Baltimore County Department of Corrections let us know about her student, Officer Kim Mason, who had the confidence to respond on August 5, 2015:
“On August 5, Officer Mason heard a loud thump and observed a female inmate lying on the floor. Officer Mason went to assess the situation and it appeared that the inmate was displaying seizure like symptoms and turning blue in the facial area. Officer Mason called a Medical Code, placed the inmate on her back, and began to administer CPR. The inmate became responsive and Officer Mason placed her in the Recovery Position to maintain an open airway. Medical and Correctional staff responded and transported the inmate to a hospital emergency room for further treatment.”
Congratulations to Officers Mason and Devers for their quick thinking!
Need more inspiration about the effectiveness of bystander emergency care? See our blog New Study on Bystander and First Responder CPR Intervention. Plus, learn more about a clever app that puts 911 communications centers in touch with trained bystanders through their smartphones.
Know a Good Samaritan that you would like to see recognized? Submit your nominee here.