citizenAID Ambassador, Lacey Newman talks about her harrowing experience of being injured during the largest mass shooting in U.S. history and why that experience that night compelled her to join the citizenAID team to spread information to empower people across America to know how to save lives before EMS Arrives.
The night of October 1, 2017 was the ending to an incredible girls bonding weekend, we spent 3 amazing days and nights singing and dancing with 22,000 of our country music loving peers. A well deserved mom’s trip went from pure relaxation and joy to complete chaos in an instant.
Between the time of realizing we were running for our lives and finding safety, I was shot. Selfless friends and strangers came to my aid that night, controlling my bleeding until I could get to EMS. We survived, but 58 of “our people” never made it home and our lives are forever changed.
In order to heal and make a healthy recovery I started a journey to find how I could educate and empower myself so the next time I would know what to do. I found citizenAID and was immediately drawn to the wealth of information available at my fingertips. I took the online courses and downloaded the mobile app, when I read about all the good citizenAID has been doing for our schools and teachers, I was sold. Having a young son, I find it hard to send him to school every day knowing very well his school is not trained nor outfitted for an active threat situation.
I’m proud to represent the citizen aspect of this organization as an ambassador and supporter. I’m also incredibly humbled to honor our 58 Angels in a way that will save lives.
I truly believe citizenAID is paving the way to change how our schools protect our children and how we all prepare for disaster.