As an aspiring firefighter, Mason Singer didn’t hesitate to jump into action when he saw the crowd clear and a person on the ground at the recent outdoor McHenry Music Festival.
After all, the 2024 McHenry Community High School graduate has completed emergency medical technician training, working for a time in an emergency room and in an ambulance. Responding to a crisis is not unusual for him.
Still, he was just enjoying some music with two friends when he noticed the commotion. “I kind of just ran right over,” he said.
The person was going in and out of consciousness, so Singer and another person, a nurse, focused on the patient while others called 911. Singer said after making sure the scene was safe, he felt for a pulse and checked breathing. Once he determined the patient didn’t need CPR or rescue breathing, he started performing sternum rubs to stimulate reactions from the person.
The person drifted in and out of consciousness until police and paramedics arrived. When paramedics took over, the person was awake and alert and on the way to the hospital, Singer said.
For Singer, who is studying fire science at McHenry Community College, helping out in high-stress emergency situations is not unusual. Part of his EMT training includes working on ambulances, and he’s been doing ride-alongs with emergency workers since his days as a biomedical science student at McHenry. High School.
“It doesn’t surprise me that he did step in,” said Leah Pelletier, McHenry High School’s Biomedical Science Instructor.
Pelletier said when Singer was a senior in the Biomedical Experiences class, a job shadowing program, he worked with several area fire departments. Singer completed all four Biomedical Science courses and earned a White Coat before graduating.
Singer credits McHenry High School’s biomedical science program with preparing him for his future career. He hopes to eventually become a firefighter and paramedic.
“The biomed program brought you through tons of different paths in the medical field,” he said.
Singer said he prepares to handle emergencies by running through different scenarios in his head. “The training is kind of automatic.” But he encourages others to not be afraid to help out in an emergency.
“Whatever you can do is helpful,” he said. “If you get to help somebody, it not only helps them but it makes you feel better.”