Charlotte Fire Recruit Performs CPR During Emergency in Mint Hill

Charlotte Fire recruit David Edwards, far from the classroom where he learned to quickly respond to emergencies, became the first responder to a real-world crisis when he encountered an unresponsive man in a stalled utility truck. Charlotte's own Edwards, only 11 weeks into his training, immediately began CPR while awaiting emergency responders after noticing the stopped vehicle in the middle of traffic near Mint Hill on Tuesday, as detailed in a report by the City of Charlotte.

Driving home after passing his North Carolina Office of EMS state EMT certification exam, Edwards glimpsed the man, not conscious, with his foot on the brake, and moved immediately to act. He told his fiancée he had to momentarily hang up, dialed 911, and to rapidly respond, shattered the truck's window to reach the man. Edwards then drew upon his recent training to begin CPR—a repetition of skills he had just days ago thought he might never use outside of an academic environment. In a statement obtained by the City of Charlotte, Edwards shared, "I didn't even think about it—I just did what we've been taught to do."

A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Edwards's journey to the Charlotte Fire Academy began with inspiration from a retired firefighter, "Way Back Ben", who instilled in him the essence of camaraderie and service integral to firefighting. His initial pursuit of a technical welding degree after military service eventually gave path to follow a career quite unlike welding, one where his experiences both on the frontlines and in training at the academy would soon prove invaluable. According to accounts obtained from Charlotte officials, Edwards's action was reflective of the core values upheld by Charlotte Fire: readiness, bravery, and a pledge to the welfare of others.

Charlotte Fire Chief Reginald Johnson was quoted in the City of Charlotte's release, "He wasn’t even halfway through recruit school, and he demonstrated exactly why EMT training comes first. This is what we’re preparing our recruits for. Every call, every moment—it could happen at any time." The difference for Edwards between training drills and the palpable pulse of an emergency was stark, but the practical skills were ingrained enough to permit him to effectively act, not hesitating even for a split second.

The incident has cemented for Edwards, and doubtlessly for his instructors and peers, the importance of thorough training. As Edwards put it in the City of Charlotte's report, "Sometimes in class, you wonder why we're doing the same drills over and over. But when it’s real, you understand. It becomes muscle memory." Edwards’s decisive actions on July 1 highlighted the real-world impact of his training, even in tragic circumstances. Edwards is now back at the academy, continuing the rigorous process of becoming a firefighter, likely with a renewed sense of conviction in the impact he's training to make.