Teen Trained in CPR Helps Save a Woman on BART
Written by Tom Sirmons
Updated October 2026 with verified details and current CPR guidance.
You are never too young to learn CPR.
In May 2009, 15-year-old Sara Broski proved that in a very real way when a woman suddenly collapsed aboard a BART train in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Sara had completed CPR training only a few weeks earlier.
When Beth Scroggs became unresponsive, Sara did not wait for someone else to act.
She began chest compressions.
That quick decision helped save a life.
A Medical Emergency on BART
On May 13, 2009, Sara was riding BART when an announcement was made about a medical emergency on the train.
She looked to see what was happening and noticed a woman who appeared to be unconscious and not breathing.
That woman was Beth Scroggs.
Sara immediately began CPR.
A local newspaper later reported that Sara continued chest compressions until emergency medical technicians arrived and took over. EMTs then used a defibrillator and restored Beth’s heart rhythm. Danville San Ramon
CPR Training Was Only Weeks Old
Sara had completed her CPR certification only a few weeks before the emergency.
That fresh training gave her something many bystanders lack:
A simple plan.
Recognize the emergency.
Start CPR.
Keep going until more help arrives.
Her actions were later formally recognized by the BART Board of Directors, which presented Sara with a certificate of appreciation for performing lifesaving CPR on May 13, 2009. Bay Area Rapid Transit
Beth Scroggs Was in Cardiac Arrest
The original article used the terms heart attack and cardiac arrest interchangeably.
They are not the same thing.
A heart attack happens when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked.
Cardiac arrest happens when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood effectively.
Beth’s emergency was reported as sudden cardiac arrest. Danville San Ramon
For a lay rescuer today, the key signs are:
- The person is unresponsive
- The person is not breathing normally or is only gasping
Current American Heart Association guidance says a lay rescuer should assume cardiac arrest in that situation and begin CPR. cpr.heart.org
Bystander CPR Helped Bridge the Gap
CPR helps keep some blood moving to the brain and other vital organs until an AED or professional medical treatment can restore an effective heart rhythm.
Sara’s chest compressions bought time.
Then EMTs arrived with a defibrillator.
That combination, early CPR followed by defibrillation, is one of the most important patterns in successful cardiac-arrest response.
An AED Can Make the Next Difference
An AED analyzes the heart rhythm and advises a shock when appropriate.
The rescuer does not have to diagnose the rhythm.
That is why modern CPR training emphasizes:
Call 911. Start CPR. Get an AED.
When an AED becomes available, it should be used as soon as possible.
Sara Was Honored for Saving a Life
Sara’s actions received attention well beyond that BART train.
The BART Board formally recognized her.
She also later received a Life Saving Award from the American Red Cross, Bay Area Chapter, according to her professional profile. LinkedIn
What makes the story especially powerful is how ordinary the beginning was.
Sara was simply a teenager riding public transportation.
Then someone nearby needed CPR.
Training turned a passenger into a rescuer.
Why CPR Training Matters
Many people assume that cardiac-arrest emergencies will be handled by doctors, nurses, paramedics, or firefighters.
But the first person on the scene is often just whoever happens to be standing nearby.
That may be:
- A teenager
- A coworker
- A teacher
- A spouse
- A neighbor
- A fellow passenger
CPR training gives ordinary people the ability to act during the minutes before EMS arrives.
Sara Broski was only 15.
That did not stop her from making a lifesaving difference.
Learn CPR Before Someone Needs It
In-Pulse CPR provides hands-on American Heart Association CPR, BLS, AED, and First Aid training.
👉 View Upcoming CPR Classes
Businesses, schools, churches, and other organizations can also schedule private training for employees and groups.
👉 Learn About Private On-Site CPR Training
You do not have to be a healthcare professional to save a life.
Sometimes you just have to be the person who knows what to do.
Updated October 2026: This article was originally written by Tom Sirmons and has been substantially revised using BART records and contemporary reporting confirming Sara Broski’s May 13, 2009 lifesaving CPR response. Medical information has also been updated to reflect current American Heart Association cardiac-arrest recognition and CPR guidance.
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