EOH: Group Trains Bystanders To Be First Responders

When a man burst through her back door after being shot, Journey Jamison was able to help, because of a training program called UMedics.
Dr. Day Davis and Kofi Ademola demonstrate how to interact with police officers when helping gunshot wound victims at a UMedics workshop in June. Andrew Gill/WBEZ
When a man burst through her back door after being shot, Journey Jamison was able to help, because of a training program called UMedics.
Dr. Day Davis and Kofi Ademola demonstrate how to interact with police officers when helping gunshot wound victims at a UMedics workshop in June. Andrew Gill/WBEZ

EOH: Group Trains Bystanders To Be First Responders

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What would you do if you witnessed someone get shot? Stand by … or would you be able to save the victim?

One group in Chicago is trying to get more people to choose the latter. Started in 2014, the group Ujimaa Medics – UMedics for short – travels around the city to give free workshops to teach people what to do during a shooting. And in a city like Chicago, that kind of training can be called upon at any time.

Morning Shift talks to UMedics co-founder Amika Tendaji about what compelled her to start the group.