CREDIT: LAURA HOPE
Two London students were quick to initiate CPR on an unconscious woman during September homecoming festvities. Their heroism was rewarded with London Police Services Board Citizen Citations.

Shawn Hope and Stacia Pepper received London Police Services Board Citizen Citations last week for their life saving efforts during Western University’s homecoming 2015.

Hope is a Construction Carpentry Techniques student at Fanshawe and Pepper is a student at Kings University.

For Western and Fanshawe students alike, Western’s annual homecoming football game is an opportunity for celebration, with thousands of students heading out to the streets of London for a citywide party.

For many over the age of 19 on said weekend this may include some adult beverages.

Last September’s homecoming weekend however was nearly marked with tragedy when a woman who was out celebrating went into anaphylactic shock.

Having never met her, Hope and Pepper wasted no time running to her aid and initiating CPR.

Hope recalled how the woman did not appear to have a pulse and was blue in the face.

The woman’s friends were distraught and screaming due to the shock of seeing her in that condition.

Officers took over performing CPR when they arrived a few minutes later. By the time paramedics arrived the woman was able to speak and explain what had happened was due to a peanut allergy from a protein bar she had been given by one of her friends.

If it wasn’t for the fast acting Hope and Pepper, the woman might not have survived.

It was a coincidence that Hope got a new job a few months prior to the incident, which required him to update his CPR training.

Up until this point he had only minimal training through school and swimming lessons.

This moment has changed how Hope looks at partying.

“It really opened my eyes to how fast stuff could really happen and you always have to be aware of the people surrounding you and the environment you are in.”

He recommended knowing your limits when drinking so you can always remain in control of your body and help others who may not yet know their limits.

He recommended that anyone who finds themselves in situations like this where they witness someone who needs help “try to lend a hand. Not all situations can turn out positive, but if you are willing to try then it’s better then not trying at all.”

Hope is also quick to say that he “didn’t lend a hand to get praised or rewarded for it. I gave CPR because it was the right thing to do to try to help save someone’s life.”

If anything can be learned from Hope and Pepper’s heroic actions, it is that a night of fun can turn sour quickly and you never know when some CPR and first aid training may prove to be vital.