A Day of Football Turns into a Life-or-Death Moment
In the packed stands of the Alabama vs. Missouri college football game, off-duty nurse Erin Mender from Michigan was ready for a day of football and fun with her fiancé and friends. But for Erin, what started as a bucket list trip to visit all SEC stadiums quickly transformed into a moment that would forever shape her nursing career and inspire people nationwide.
Erin, a dedicated travel nurse and football enthusiast, had made the journey to Alabama with her fiancé to catch the game and stay with friends. As she watched from the stands, her day off took an unexpected turn when a fan near her suddenly collapsed. Instinct took over, and Erin was by his side in an instant, performing a rapid assessment and calming him while other medics were called.
“It was natural, instinctive,” she recalls. “I immediately asked if they needed a nurse and just went over to help.”
CPR in the Stands: A Nurse’s Lifesaving Response
Once the man was safely on a stretcher and transported to the hospital, Erin might have thought her role for the day was over. But as she headed back to her seat, she felt a tap on her shoulder: an EMT who had just helped her with the first emergency had collapsed in the stands himself. Surrounded by chaos, Erin had to act fast.
“His eyes started rolling back, he went completely pale, and I thought, ‘Okay, we’re doing CPR,’” she shared. “Everything went quiet around me. I remember thinking, ‘I need to count out loud so they know how long I’ve been doing compressions.’”
With no pulse detected, Erin began performing CPR right there in the bleachers. The noise of the stadium faded as she focused entirely on her training, summoning her skills and courage to save a life.
“It was chaotic. The crowd was so loud, and I just focused on my training,” Erin reflected. “In the hospital, we have everything—a whole team, all the resources. In the stadium, it was just me, and I didn’t have the support I usually count on. That was a bit scary.”
But her calm focus and skill helped revive the EMT, and he was able to regain responsiveness and was transported to a nearby hospital. Only afterward did the intensity of the moment sink in.
A Tearful Moment and Unwavering Support
But the emotional weight of the moment didn’t fully hit her until afterward, when a powerful video captured her fiancé comforting her as she processed what had happened. “I’m so thankful he was there,” she said. “He told me, ‘It was incredible to see you do your thing.’ He’s always heard my stories, but seeing it firsthand made him realize what we really go through as nurses.”
Back at her hospital, Erin’s colleagues have shown immense support. Her coworkers welcomed her back with pride and admiration, showing how much they appreciated her dedication and skill. “Nurses need to lift each other up,” she reflected. “This job isn’t easy, and having a supportive community is everything. Knowing my coworkers were behind me gave me strength to keep going.”
Erin’s Message to Us All: Get CPR Certified
Since that day, Erin’s story has touched thousands. People from all over have reached out to share their own experiences and express gratitude, with many saying they felt inspired to get CPR certified. For Erin, it’s a powerful reminder of the impact that one person can make, and she hopes others will take her story as motivation to learn CPR.
“Every day, people reach out saying they’re inspired to get CPR certified or renew their certification,” Erin shared. “Even if you’re never called on to use it, CPR is a tool everyone should have in their toolbox. Just knowing how to do it might mean the difference between life and death one day.”
Erin’s journey reminds us of the power of preparation, compassion, and courage. She believes that her story happened for a reason, and she’s using this moment to encourage others to take even a simple step toward CPR training. “I feel like I was meant to be there,” she said, humbly reflecting on her experience. “This is why I became a nurse—to help people, anywhere, anytime. And that goes beyond the workplace.”
A Call to Action: CPR Certification
Erin’s story isn’t just about a lifesaving moment in a stadium; it’s a call to action for everyone to get CPR certified.
“If just one person gets CPR certified because of this, it’ll all be worth it,” Erin says. “This is what nursing is to me—being there for others, even when you’re off the clock.”
To learn more about CPR training, visit the American Heart Association’s CPR Certification page, where you can find resources and guidance on high-quality CPR that could help you save a life. By becoming CPR certified, you’re not only preparing to help others in critical moments but also joining a community of lifesavers like Erin.
