Two sisters rescue a crossing guard after she has a stroke

ST. GEORGE, Utah- St. George police are commending two women on their quick actions that saved a woman’s life when she had a stroke. Sisters Elaine and Marie Giacobone were driving by a crosswalk when they noticed something that wasn’t right. The crossing guard seemed to be “sleeping.”

“She looked more slumped over and that was the signal that said there’s just something not right here,” Marie said.

So the two flipped a U-turn and got out to check on the woman who was unresponsive at first.

“We expected her to wake up startled, like ‘oh gosh I fell asleep,’ but when she didn’t we just kind of jumped at it,” Marie said.

Marie remembered the acronym FAST, used to recognize stroke symptoms. The acronym goes as follows:

F- Face drooping

A- Arm weakness

S- Speech difficulty

T- Time to call 9-1-1

The two sisters began to try to communicate with her and said she was mumbling and disoriented. Elaine and Marie asked the woman to smile and only half of her face was able to move. Then they called 9-1-1.

“It’s what you do and it’s what we did…,” Elaine said. “I’m very glad she’s doing well and I hope she improves. I was prepared to replace her as the crossing guard should that be necessary but the city was right on top of it and got a substitute.”

St. George police reported the crossing guard is home and healing and advises the public to say something when they see something.