By Luis Rodriguez
On an otherwise regular Tuesday afternoon, Brain Lavoie, a Health Sciences Major at Springfield College, found himself in an extraordinary situation. Returning from a doctor’s appointment, he stumbled upon a chaotic scene at the intersection of
Alden and Middlesex Streets. A collision between a van and a car had left several people injured.
Without hesitation, Lavoie sprang into action. After parking his car, he rushed to aid those involved. (He later estimated that from the accident, eight of the wounded were from the van, and the ninth was from the car.)
He attended to four of the nine injured individuals, using gauze to control immediately noticeable bleeding. He then assessed the symptoms of other potential injuries. Lavoie identified that several of the victims needed support for their neck pains, stating they were “indicative of concussions or spinal injuries.” With the help of another passing EMT, he supported the neck of the most critically injured person. He quickly secured cervical collars for those with head and back trauma, providing much-needed stability until additional medical help arrived.
Reflecting on his actions, Lavoie credited his first aid training and experience to his EMT work in Oxford, Massachusetts, and the instructor of his first-year EMT course, Professor Abdullah. Lavoie says he works as an EMT “at least two days every month, more if I can.” When asked what he thought about the actions, he humbly declared, “Anyone would’ve done it; it wasn’t really exceptional. I just did what had to be done, that’s all.”
Despite Lavoie downplaying the heroism of his actions, Springfield College’s Vice President for Student Affairs, Slandie Dieujuste, and Police Chief Joseph Tiraboschi honored him on Feb. 26 with a certificate of commendation that read: “For his heroic actions in responding to and aiding victims of a motor vehicle accident.” It was a moment of unexpected heroism amidst an otherwise ordinary day.
Photo by Luis Rodriguez/The Student