Stoughton Nursing Student Saves A Life

STOUGHTON, MA — It was supposed to be a regular trip to Cumberland Farms for Michaela Peck on a sunny Saturday afternoon in May. But when she pulled into the parking lot, Peck had to put her work as a nursing student to the test when she noticed a passenger in a nearby car was unresponsive. Peck acted quickly, performed CPR, and ultimately saved the woman's life, and two weeks ago, the Board of Selectmen honored her for her heroism.

Deputy Fire Chief Scott Breen, who as Peck's neighbor, has known Peck since her birth, brought her life-saving actions to the attention of the board. Breen said an ambulance was on its way, but Peck stepping in and using her training as a nursing student at Salem State University made all the difference.

"Without Michaela's intervention, the outcome might not have been as good as it was," Breen said. "So this person gets to go home to their family because Michaela Peck did what she was trained to do."

Breen said Michaela was nervous because she had never performed CPR on a person before, but did a great job. Peck said she was able to put those nerves aside and just focus on helping the woman in need.

"I was just focused on helping the woman anyway I could," Peck told Patch. "Although an ambulance was on its way, I knew as soon as I pulled her out of her car that she needed CPR so I laid her down on the ground and started immediately. I’m just very grateful that everything turned out okay and I was able to help."

At the selectmen meeting on June 25, the board presented Peck with the "Life Saving Citizenship Award." The board took pictures with Peck's family, including her father Michael, who is a lieutenant on the Stoughton Fire Department and her grandfather Roy, a retired Stoughton firefighter.

Selectmen Chair Bob O'Regan congratulated Peck for making "a difference in the life of an individual and the life of the town."

"Everyday, we never know when we can make a difference to the life of an individual doing something," O'Regan said. "And that affects the whole community. And that's what you did."