CHICAGO – State Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, and Dr. Mamta Swaroop, Associate Professor of Surgery, Division of Trauma and Critical Care Surgery at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, hosted a Chicago Trauma First Responder Course recently to teach community residents how to assist victims of gun violence while emergency services arrive.

“Incidents of violence require more than just emergency services to save someone who is in need of immediate care,” said Harper. “This event was designed to teach ordinary people to be prepared to assist victims of gun violence when these crimes take place in order to increase the victim’s chance of survival.”

Harper and Dr. Swaroop offered a Chicago Trauma First Responder Course to teach attendees how they can potentially save a victim of gun violence. Dr. Swaroop highlighted the steps a bystander can take so that victims can receive immediate attention while an ambulance arrives. While Chicago’s crime rate increases, Harper feels that it is important that local community residents are equipped to handle a situation when someone falls victim to gun violence.

“I have been offering this course for some time now to show how people can be life-savers themselves,” said Swaroop. “It is so important that people be ready at any moment to step into a highly stressful situation to help save a fellow resident’s life. I want to thank Rep. Harper for helping me offer this course throughout Chicago.”

Harper represents the 6th District which includes all or portions of Armour Square, Bridgeport, Chicago Lawn, Englewood, Gage Park, Marquette Park, Canaryville, Back of the Yards, New City and West Englewood in the city of Chicago. To stay up to date with Rep. Harper for local and legislative updates, please visit her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/repsonyaharper/.

CHICAGO – Community residents will have the opportunity to learn how to assist victims of gun violence by participating in a Chicago Trauma First Responder Course that is being hosted by state Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, and Dr. Mamta Swaroop, Associate Professor of Surgery, Division of Trauma and Critical Care Surgery at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. This course will take place on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Harper’s constituent service office, located at 4926 S. Ashland in Chicago.

“Gun violence and other crimes are tearing families apart in Chicago, and we need people on the streets who are trained to respond to a crisis at any given moment,” said Harper. “Gun crimes can be intensely stressful and require decisive action to help a victim, but bystanders may not feel comfortable to jump into a situation without proper training. People will learn how to assist a victim of gun violence while emergency services arrive, increasing the likelihood of a victim’s survival.”

Space for the course is limited to 30 participants. Interested residents should RSVP to Harper’s constituent service office at 773-925-6580 or repsonyaharper@gmail.com.

Who: State Rep. Sonya Harper
Dr. Mamta Swaroop

What: Chicago Trauma First Responder Course

When: Saturday, Oct. 28
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Harper’s Constituent Service Office
4926 S. Ashland
Chicago