LCCC student provides life-saving first aid on the job

When a coworker at Meridian Trust Federal Credit Union collapsed during a routine workday in November, Tosha Cox didn’t hesitate.

Cox, a Laramie County Community College student enrolled in the Health Sciences & Wellness Pathway, stepped forward to perform CPR while colleagues called 911 and cleared space for emergency responders. For several minutes, she and another coworker administered chest compressions until firefighters and EMTs arrived.

The day had started like any other, said Mariah Robinson, Cox’s supervisor at the credit union. Phones were ringing, employees were handling calls, and nothing suggested the kind of emergency that would unfold moments later. When it became clear a medical crisis was underway, staff moved quickly, each taking on a role.

“She just got out of her chair, came right over, and started doing compressions,” Mariah said. “There wasn’t any hesitation.”

Cox, who works full-time at the credit union while completing her degree, has years of prior healthcare experience. She previously worked as a certified nursing assistant in a hospital setting and holds a current CPR certification. That background, she said, guided her decision to step in.

“I offered to do it because I’m trained,” Tosha said. “If the outcome hadn’t been good, I would rather it be me carrying that than someone else who didn’t have that experience.”

The emergency unfolded quickly. A dispatcher stayed on the line, counting out instructions as employees worked to stabilize their coworker. Cox performed compressions until she became fatigued, then coordinated a handoff to another trained colleague. Between compressions, she helped direct coworkers to move furniture and clear a path for arriving Emergency Medical Technicians.

Once firefighters and EMTs took over, the credit union staff stepped back. Later, Robinson said, a deputy chief with Cheyenne Fire Rescue told the team that the bystander CPR had been critical and that the outcome could have been very different without it. The coworker survived and was taken to a local hospital.

For Cox, the emotional weight of the moment lingered after the immediate danger had passed. Unlike CPR performed in a hospital, this was someone she spoke with every day, someone whose desk sat next to hers.

“I was nervous that I wasn’t going to be able to bring her back,” Tosha said. “It’s different when it’s someone you know.”

The incident happened just days before Thanksgiving, a detail that stayed with Cox as she reflected on what might have been lost. She said the timing underscored how quickly ordinary routines can shift, and how important it is for someone to be ready when they do.

Cox grew up helping care for a younger sister with cerebral palsy, an experience that influenced her decision to pursue healthcare and continues to shape how she approaches responsibility. After completing her associate degree this spring, she plans to begin LCCC’s medical billing and coding program while continuing to work full-time.

Robinson said the experience brought the credit union staff closer together, with each person contributing in a critical moment. But she also said seeing Cox act so decisively changed how she understood what preparedness really looks like.

“You never know who’s going to step up when it matters,” Mariah said. “That day showed us exactly what that can look like.”

Go to lccc.wy.edu/academics/divisions/HSW for more information about LCCC’s Health Science and Wellness Pathway.