Bleeding First Aid: How a Port St. Lucie Couple Stepped In to Help Save a Child
When emergencies strike without warning, the actions of everyday people can make the difference between life and death. That reality became painfully clear for Port St. Lucie residents Jayson Bono and Dawn Pummill, who found themselves at the center of a terrifying road-rage shooting that left a 3-year-old girl fighting for her life.
The child, Preslie, was shot in the head during a road-rage incident near the 1000 block of Southeast Bywood Avenue. The traumatic moment has stayed with Bono and Pummill ever since—and their quick response highlights why basic first aid skills are invaluable.
(You can read the original news report here:
A Night That Changed Everything
Just after 3 a.m., the couple had fallen asleep together on their couch when a violent pounding on the front door jolted them awake.
“We heard a loud bang on the door,” Bono said. “He just started yelling, ‘Call 911!’”
When they opened the door, they saw a truck parked at the end of their driveway. Inside was the horrifying sight no one ever expects: a small child in the back seat, bleeding badly from a gunshot wound to the head.
“It was a kid,” Pummill said, still shaken days later. “I walked around the corner and there was this little girl just laying in the car in the back seat, and she’s just bleeding everywhere. It was terrifying. Like… what do you do?”
Acting Under Pressure: A First Aid Response
In those crucial first moments, instinct and compassion took over.
Bono immediately dialed 911 while Pummill rushed to the child. Despite initially breaking down, she collected herself within seconds.
“At first I lost it—I cried for a second—and then I realized I needed to pull it together for her,” she said.
Pummill grabbed a towel and applied firm pressure to the wound—exactly what first aid training teaches for severe bleeding. This simple but essential action helps slow blood loss until professional medical care arrives.
“I didn’t want her to die,” she said. “I just kept telling her, ‘Hold on.’”
For several agonizing minutes, Pummill stayed with Preslie, keeping pressure on the wound until police and paramedics reached the scene.
The Emotional Aftermath
More than a week later, the trauma still lingers.
Pummill checks the news constantly, hoping the person responsible is found. She admits to struggling with nightmares and replaying the moment over and over. Bono feels the same.
“It was an awful thing to go through at any angle,” he said.
The couple chose to speak publicly for one reason: to urge the person responsible to come forward.
“Let us know you have remorse—that you didn’t know there was a child in the car,” Pummill said. “I have to believe that, because I can’t believe anyone would shoot a child on purpose.”
A Powerful Message: First Aid and Compassion Matter
Amid the chaos and trauma, one message echoes clearly from Pummill:
“Tell your people you love them. Road rage is crazy. That little girl might die… for what? Because somebody was behind the wheel of a car.”
This heartbreaking incident is a striking reminder that emergencies can happen anywhere, at any time, and to anyone. But basic first aid knowledge—like how to control bleeding—can make a real difference.
If this moment has you thinking about whether you’d know what to do in a crisis, consider developing those lifesaving skills through a well-rounded training program such as Standard First Aid, which covers bleeding control, CPR, wound care, and emergency scene management.
Learn more here: https://firstaidcalgary.ca/standard-first-aid-courses
Why First Aid Training Matters
You don’t need to be a medical professional to save a life. First aid and CPR training equips everyday people with the skills to act fast, stay calm, and provide life-supporting care in moments that count.
Whether it’s a bleeding injury, choking, cardiac arrest, or a traumatic event like this one, knowing what to do can dramatically improve outcomes.
Learn More About Bleeding First Aid
If you want to be prepared to help during an emergency, consider enrolling in a basic first aid course. These trusted resources are great starting points:
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