SOMA student saves a life
Posted: February 23, 2010
SOMA student James Simmons, OMS III, was recognized in November with the A.T. Still University Above and Beyond Award for his quick thinking and heroic action, which saved the life of a Bellevue, Wash., man.
Simmons witnessed a vehicular-pedestrian accident at a local car wash that left the victim slumped in his own trunk with nearly complete amputation of both legs. Simmons raced to the scene, and using towels as tourniquets, was able to stop the severe hemorrhaging. Orthopaedic surgeons who later treated the patient commended Simmons’ actions as having saved the man’s life, as well as his limbs.
“We at the HealthPoint community campus of ATSU-SOMA are extremely proud of Jimmy’s willingness to jump into action and help in a time of life-threatening emergency,” said Eric Parsons, M.D., ATSU-SOMA learning facilitator. “It takes courage to do this with or without medical training and Jimmy’s courage, not to mention his correct actions, saved a man’s life and limbs. His compassionate action deserves our recognition. It inspires all of us to be willing to jump in and help in the face of tragedy or emergency.”
Simmons, in his third year of medical school at ATSU-SOMA, is in his second year at the HealthPoint community campus in Seattle, Wash. His heroic actions have also earned him the City of Bellevue Police Department Citizen Life Saving Award, to be presented in May 2010.