Skarlatos And Ann Eldridge's Analysis

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A person’s thoughts and emotions have a major influence on the decision they make during an emergency. Two individuals who followed emotion and not thought, Alek Skarlatos and Laurie Ann Eldridge, found themselves in action before they even knew it. Impulsive emotions during an urgent situation are a driving force that cause an ordinary bystander to become a hero. (59)
Taken over by adrenaline, Alek Skarlatos took down a gunman on a flight to Paris. In the New York Times article by Adam Nossiter, published on August 22, 2015, “A Shot, a Glimpse of an AK-47, and U.S. Servicemen Pounced on Gunman on Train to France”, Mr. Skarlatos stated that he didn't fully comprehend what went on but adrenaline was the cause of his reaction. Being the first to react, there was not much time for him to hesitate or read the situation. He and a few others attacked the gunman right away. There were many disadvantages to account for, such as lack of weapons he had compared to the well-equipped gunman. However, there were lives at stake if this gunman wasn't caught. Mr. Skarlatos didn’t think about any of those factors and jumped right into action because he felt it was necessary at the time. (146) …show more content…

From her garden, Ms. Eldridge noticed an elderly woman at a railroad crossing, unaware of the nearing train. "All I could think about was the lady's face. She looked lost. She needed help, and she needed help right then," mentioned Ms. Eldridge in Wall Street Journal’s “Are You a Hero or a Bystander” by Sue Shellenbarger published on August 21, 2012. With the help of her determination, she sprinted to the elderly woman and pulled her out of the vehicle just in time. There was no time to contemplate ‘what ifs’ or to reconsider her decision. Even though her life could’ve been taken away along with the elder’s, she made the decision to run towards the tracks nonetheless.

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