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1st SOMSS trio aid injured man

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Virginia Schreitmueller
  • 1st Special Operations Mission Support Squadron Public Affairs
Going to a farewell luncheon isn't too unusual when you're in the military, but a recent such gathering turned into a chance event to be heroines for three Hurlburt Field women Nov. 30.

Staff Sgt. Kelly Potter, Senior Airman Amelia Robinson and Tami Ivison, all assigned to the 1st Special Operations Mission Support Squadron, were standing in the parking lot of a local restaurant after the luncheon when they were distracted from their conversation by a loud noise.

"We heard this 'bang' and looked toward the back of the restaurant where a crew was installing an air conditioning unit on the roof," Ms. Ivison said. "The unit had fallen off and landed near the building. We commented on the fact we picked a good time to leave the restaurant when we noticed a man on the ladder."

As the women watched, one of the crewmembers was inching his way across a ladder strung between a truck and the roof. The three agreed it was a disaster waiting to happen.

"It was surreal; we all kept watching as if we knew something bad was going to happen," Sergeant Potter said. "We looked over and saw him fall from the ladder about 15 feet to the ground."

Without saying a word to each other, the Air Commandos jumped into action.

"We really didn't have to say anything to each other about what to do," said Airman Robinson, who had completed her CPR certification training the day before. "I don't think he had hit the ground when our self-aid buddy care training kicked in."

Airman Robinson arrived at the man's side first, with Sergeant Potter right behind her. Ms. Ivison grabbed her cell phone, dialed 9-1-1 and yelled for someone in the restaurant to grab a first aid kit and any emergency supplies they could find. At this point, she realized the other two women had the first-aid care under control so she assumed the role of logistics coordinator between the on-scene team and the rescue team en route.

"I knew from my training that the more information we could provide to the emergency crew before they arrived on scene the more prepared they would be to assume the man's care when they arrived," said Ms. Ivison, who separated from the Air Force last year.

"It was obvious he was hurt; there was so much blood all over the ground," Sergeant Potter said. "We checked for breathing and a pulse, and he was alive. Airman Robinson and I realized he was choking on his blood, but knew from first aid training we needed to minimize the amount we moved him so not to cause any further injury."

Working in unison, the two Airmen gently lifted the unconscious man's head enough to pull him out of the pool of blood. It was then they realized he had a severe cut on his head. Ms. Ivision yelled from someone to grab towels from inside the restaurant. In the meantime, she kept relaying information to the 9-1-1 operator to pass to the rescue team.

"As soon as I lifted his head an inch he began to regain consciousness," Airman Robinson said. "He was pretty vocal about us leaving him alone, and we realized he was going into shock from the fall and loss of blood. We kept talking to him, asking him questions and trying to get him to stay calm while we waited for the ambulance to arrive."

Using some clean kitchen towels, the women applied pressure to the wound and did what they could to reassure the man. In the distance, they could hear the approaching rescue vehicles. An Okaloosa County Emergency Rescue Management team arrived in less than five minutes, though the women all agreed it seemed longer.

"As the emergency crews took over, we just stepped out of the way and decided we better get back to base," Airman Robinson said. "I wouldn't say it was just another lunchtime, but what we did is exactly what we are trained to do."

The women collectively agreed their reactions to the situation was a combination of their Air Force training and their experiences as mothers.

"You just know what you have to do, and you put all the personal reactions to the situation in the back corner," Ms. Ivison said.

"We all have mandatory self-aid and buddy care training classes we take every year. In general, we all make fun of the video they show and how corny it all seems," Sergeant Potter said. "But, whether it's my son falling off his bed or a man falling off a ladder, that training kicks into overdrive."

With the man safely in the hands of the emergency crews, the trio headed back to Hurlburt Field.

Though they told his co-workers to pass on their best wishes to the man and his family, they didn't feel as if they had done anything out of the ordinary. The emergency crew disagrees.

"They did all the right things," said Chloe' Haig, a county emergency medical technician who arrived at the scene. "They did a great job of caring for the man until we could arrive, and certainly their assistance made a big difference to the potential negative outcome of the situation. They are heroes!"

The EMT's sentiments were shared by the 1st Special Operations Mission Support Group Commander, Col. Michael Smietana. The colonel presented the three heroes with a coin Monday, applauding their courage to step up and do the right thing.

"You never know how you will react in these types of situations," the commander told the trio. "Fortunately for that man, you did respond, and you responded in all the right ways."