MOLINE, Ill. — Josh Shipley isn't a first responder, but he makes sure he's prepared to step in on a moments notice. He thinks of himself a "walking hospital closet," spending more than $300 to assemble portable medical kits over the last four years.
Why does he do it? Because you can't put a price tag on saving someone's life.
"It doesn't cost anything to save a person's life," Shipley said. "I think everyone should learn how to do it."
And that's exactly how Shipley and his girlfriend spent their Saturday afternoon. The two attended a free life saving practices seminar at the Moline Public Library, where they picked up critical skills like hand's only CPR and how to prevent someone from bleeding out.
Antaeus Simmons, founder of the Under the Helmet Riders Foundation, is the man behind the event. He understands emergencies can come in a moments notice, and used the afternoon to teach fellow bike riders what to do in a life-threatening situation.
Simmons would've loved to see a few more faces in the crowd, but he's hopeful attendees like Shipley will share what they've learned and be the right person at the right place at the right time.
"It wasn't a filled room, but [what if] that one person [who attended the event] might be somewhere and might have to use that skill," Simmons suggested. "[They may not] use the skill themselves, but can teach someone else to use that skill."
The Under the Helmet Riders Foundation typically offers the event once a month, and Simmons is already planning the next one in East Moline.