A Denver woman, referred to as ‘A,’ played a crucial role in providing medical aid to one of the victims of a Saturday night shooting at a gas station. She now emphasizes the importance of emergency preparedness.
That evening, ‘A’ was at home with her elderly parents when she heard gunshots. Her father confirmed the sound, prompting her to look out the window, where she saw a woman staggering down the block from a nearby gas station on 5th Avenue and North Sheridan Boulevard.
Their neighbor, who stepped outside to check on the woman, quickly realized she needed help and called 911. ‘A’ rushed outside to assist, finding the woman shot in the arm and leg. Despite her parents being frozen in shock, ‘A’ retrieved a first aid kit and began administering aid, focusing on stopping the bleeding and keeping the woman conscious.
Throughout the ordeal, ‘A’ coached the woman on breathing and maintaining pressure on her wounds. The woman, while frantic, mentioned her boyfriend had also been shot and was at the gas station. Emergency Medical Technicians arrived soon after and took over.
‘A’ later learned that the woman’s boyfriend had succumbed to his injuries. Reflecting on the incident, she stressed the importance of first aid training, recounting how she first got certified in high school and continues to renew her certification every two years for her job.
She believes that without her intervention, the outcome for the woman might have been dire. As of Sunday night, the woman remained in critical but stable condition in the hospital. ‘A’ continues to monitor her condition, hopeful for her recovery.
‘A’ advocates for more people to become certified in first aid, underscoring its potential to make a life-or-death difference in emergencies.
“If you know how to do that, you can be the bridge between, you know, something terrible, and something miraculous,” she said.
