Alyssa Paubel and Terri Violet

Do you think you’ll ever need to use your first aid training on someone? I just did!

A couple of little girls were riding their bike and skateboard down the hill in front of our house recently. One little girl (8 yrs old) spilled off her bike when her sister’s skateboard went out of control and slid under the bike. The young biker landed on her arm.

I ran out of the house and down the hill armed with my first aid kit thinking I’d be cleaning minor cuts, scrapes and applying Band-Aids. She was screaming, “I think I broke my arm! I think I broke my arm!!!!!” I noticed scratches and slight swelling so I used two of the gauze slings I got from my First Aid class and wrapped her arm against her like the manual said. In the mean-time, the older sister used my cell phone and called their mom. Her mom came running up the street and after checking out the situation, said she would let me know when they find anything out from the doctor.

A couple of days later, I found out the little girl's name is Alyssa Paubel. Her mom brought her back to visit with news from the doctor. Both bones in Alyssa’s arm are broken! The ER nurse told Mrs. Paubel that I did a wonderful job applying the sling

Alyssa now has a hot-pink cast and was able to go back to school the day they came to visit. Her family and mine are new forever friends and neighbors.

I'm so happy I knew what to do; this is why I encourage others to be trained. We never know when we’ll be in the position to help someone in trouble and/or save a life. Are you Red Cross ready? Get a kit. Make a plan. Be informed. Sign up today for a First Aid class of your own- you never know when you’ll need it!