Heroic high school senior, 17, saved man’s life after pulling him from smoking car crash wreckage: ‘I just didn’t want to leave him’
Kelly Shields, a 17-year-old high school senior in Maryland, was honoured after helping save a man found unconscious in a crashed car. Her actions show how her nursing studies helped her respond in an emergency while travelling to school.
In late August, Shields heard the crash, stopped to investigate and opened the damaged car door. She checked the man’s vital signs, found he had a pulse and assessed his condition after he regained consciousness, staying with him until emergency responders arrived. She is working towards nursing and clinical medical assistant certifications at the Center of Applied Technology South and received a Certificate of Appreciation from county police, along with citations from officials.
In short
- Kelly Shields stopped to help after hearing a car crash.
- She checked an unconscious man and stayed until responders arrived.
- Maryland officials recognised her actions and nursing studies.
Explained simply
In Maryland, teenagers can study practical career subjects alongside their usual schoolwork through local career and technology programmes. Kelly Shields was training in nursing and clinical medical assistance, which teaches students basic ways to assess and care for someone who is ill or injured.
After a road crash, emergency services take over medical care, but the time before they arrive can be important. Knowing how to check whether someone is responsive and breathing, and staying with them, can help responders understand what has happened when they reach the scene.