Temple's "Fighting Chance" program teaches civilians emergency response

NORTH PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) - Would you know how to react in if an emergency struck?

Dozens gathered in north Philadelphia Wednesday night to make sure that they do.

Doctors and nurses at Temple University Hospital taught civilians what to do before the first responders arrive.

FOX 29's Dave Schratwieser took part, and is sharing these lessons that really can save a life.

A reenactment of a shooting scene allowed doctors and nurses from Temple University Hospital to show the community how to help save a life after a shooting in their neighborhood.

"The goal of this training is to put the power to save one another in the hands of the folks that live in communities with the highest rates of gun injury," said trauma coordinator Scott Charles.

The two hour, hands on course, is part of Temple's "Fighting Chance" program designed to help high violence neighborhoods react to a shooting scenario. Doctors and nurses spent the night training residents on what they can do to help before first responders arrive.

"We teach things like how to stop bleeding, that you can stop it using pressure points and bandaging," Dr. Tim Bryan explained, "Probably most importantly how to move someone from Point A to Point B who's hurt."

Young brothers Gabriel and Michael Ramos took the training hoping they too can save a life one day.

"If regular people from the community can help they can probably give more people a better chance of surviving so they can be with their family and kids," 11-year-old Michael Ramos said.

"That would feel good to see someone in need and be able to help them," added Gabriel, just 13.

The mass shooting in San Bernardino is still fresh on the minds of those involved here, but so are the everyday shootings that occur in Philadelphia. Norman Wooten has seen people shot twice in his neighborhood.

"If I'd have had this training back then it would have been two lives that would have been saved," Wooten said.

Ted Mapp took the Wednesday night class as a refresher course. The fighting chance program may soon branch out to other neighborhoods in Philadelphia.

"If I can help somebody survive, save a life, yes something I would like to do," Mapp said.

A very enthusiastic group of 50 to 60 people came for the training tonight including, men, women, children and even grandparents.

Temple hopes to take this to Chicago and other big cities where gun violence is also a problem.