By Susanne Reynolds

Special to The Post-Searchlight

Bainbridge State College is pleased to congratulate William Barlow of Donalsonville on a recent heroic deed.

Barlow, a BSC student in the EMT program, recently saved the life of a woman thanks to skills learned in the Health, Physical Education and Wellness course he took at Bainbridge State College.

Since 2001, he has been a volunteer fireman. Earlier this month, Barlow was attending a board meeting at the Spring Creek Fire Department in Reynoldsville. As the meeting adjourned, one of the board members walked outside and immediately was stung by a host of bees.

She began having a severe allergic reaction to the stings. After giving herself a shot with an EPI pen, her arms and legs started tingling and her muscles started stiffening—and breathing became difficult.

Barlow recognized the emergency and dialed 911. The patient’s legs and arms became immobile and she started showing signs of shock. Following her instructions, the student found another EPI pen in her purse and administered a second shot and treated her for shock.

The fire chief congratulated Barlow and told him he had done everything correctly to save the woman’s life.

According to Barlow, he believes it was his duty to help during this emergency situation. He said, “I feel it was my duty to help and I try to help those I can. It makes me feel good to know I helped save a life. By being a student in the Health and Wellness course at BSC, it has reminded me of what to do during an emergency like this.”

For his quick thinking and actions to save the life of a fellow human being, Barlow will receive the Bainbridge State College Hero Award. He is the fourteenth BSC hero since 2010 when the Hero Program began.