The Benefits of Vigilance in Emergency Situations

Stéphanie joined Protectas at the beginning of 2023 after gaining a year and a half of experience at a small security agency in France. She is currently preparing for a position with an international organization in Geneva and is temporarily working with the security team at a large furniture store.

On June 5th, while conducting a patrol in the underground parking lot, Stéphanie received an urgent call: a panicked colleague asked her to come quickly, mentioning blood. As she ran through the maze of aisles in the large store, her mind raced. Upon arrival, she found a seven-year-old boy lying on the ground with his mother by his side. The boy had fallen about one and a half meters and suffered an open fracture to his arm, causing significant bleeding. A colleague had already attempted to stop the bleeding with a makeshift tourniquet made from a yellow vest.

Stéphanie, in contact with emergency services, applied pressure to the artery to control the bleeding. She always carries a small pouch with gloves to avoid infection. While caring for the child, she reassured the mother. Despite his injury, the boy remained conscious and showed great courage. The ambulance arrived quickly and took the young boy to the hospital where he underwent immediate surgery.

Once alone, Stéphanie wrote her incident report. It was the first time she had faced such a situation. She realized that her recent volunteer firefighter training, completed in January, had notably helped her manage this incident with calm and efficiency. Learning from this experience, she decided to add a cotton cloth to her first aid kit for tourniquets.

At Protectas, we emphasize the importance of continuous training, particularly in first aid, for our security officers. This story is a perfect example of how these skills can make a crucial difference in emergency situations.

The boy's mother expressed her gratitude in an email following the intervention:

"Stéphanie immediately took charge and stayed with my son, speaking gently to him and reassuring him until the ambulance arrived. She also took care of me in a very professional manner. I am immensely grateful for everything she did for my son and me."

In her role as a security officer at Protectas, Stéphanie particularly appreciates the human contact and the feeling of being useful. She fully embodies the values of vigilance, helpfulness, and integrity that Protectas promotes. We are proud of our employees who live these values daily and contribute to the safety and well-being of everyone.