For University of Houston senior Emma Garcia, Sept. 14 started just as any other day: hot, busy and with enough cars on campus to push her to the edge of TDECU Stadium warehouses at 9:30 a.m. However, the day soon proved to be anything from average — it was lifechanging.
“As I was walking to class, I knew something out of my periphery just was not right,” Garcia, a biology major and an air force leadership studies minor, said. “The atmosphere was tense, and my gut was telling me ‘Stop, turn around, check the scene, check your surroundings. Something is not ok.’ I turned around, and lo and behold, something was not ok. Someone was immobile on the floor.”
Quickly evaluating the situation, Garcia saw a man in duress who was unable to move from the neck down. He was not alone. Others on scene were on the phone with first responders for emergency medical service and assistance. She rushed in to assist by applying basic lifesaving skills until medical care arrived.
“That calm, levelheadedness comes from the military and the training I received from them,” Garcia said. “It is vital in certain situations to stay calm under pressure and to take everything in a step-by-step fashion and not get overwhelmed. To control what you can control and just ‘go down the list.’ I credit that method to them entirely.”
The man was numb throughout his body with glazed, bulging eyes and little response. Garcia comforted him as they waited for EMS and monitored his breathing and pulse in case CPR was needed. When medical help arrived, she waited as he was checked up on to confirm no additional assistance was needed, and after conferring with a police officer, she signed off as a witness.
Garcia notes that life, college and AFROTC have kept her busy, and the flexible system of adaptability to circumstances has desensitized her to the rush of day-to-day affairs. AFROTC training has also exposed her to high-pressure situations, preventing a fear of the unknown.
“It is the second major emergency where someone was rushed to the hospital, and I knew how to effectively respond. Although I am not a medical professional, I knew how to be effective with my time and to best serve the man until medical personnel arrived,” said Garcia.
On track to be commissioned into the military in May, Garcia is awaiting her first base assignment, which will be determined by the needs of the U.S. Air Force. In the meantime, Garcia is navigating the pathway to her next goal: to obtain a medical degree. While in Houston, she will continue to research and work in a clinical setting before tackling medical school applications next summer. Although timing, location and her overall mission are still up in the air, one thing is for certain: Garcia is more than capable of navigating the unknown.