459th Airman first responder to highway collision

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Ashley Crawford
  • 459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. -- --  Driving beach bound, a typical day for many until the unthinkable occurs, a major accident just moments ahead. First responder, or another "bottle necking" bystander? For Senior Airman Hope Waldron, 459th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, aerospace medical technician, the decision was second nature.

While attending Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support certification course located at Brooks City-Base, Texas, studious Airmen would be surprised how soon each would participate in a real-world scenario of the life saving skills they were studying, said Senior Airman Waldron.

"Traveling south on IH-37 approaching mile marker 102 a semi lost a tire," Airman Waldron said. "The tire struck a nearby vehicle causing it to spin out of control. The vehicle eventually crossed the median into oncoming traffic and collided with a pickup truck towing a boat and trailer."

"The accident occurred just minutes ahead of us." Airman Waldron said. "Ten other students and I saw what happened; there was no thought, or panic... just reaction."

"Without any gloves or medical equipment we quickly set up a make-shift triage and everyone did what they could," explained Airman Waldron. "One class member cleared the road of a boat that was launched 40 feet in front of its towing pickup truck; this allowed some traffic to pass."

Simultaneously working, the Airmen were on scene 15 minutes before Emergency Medical Service technicians arrived.

While others were helping the driver of the truck, Airman Waldron assisted passengers in the car by administering cervical spine precaution (C-Spine), she said. With the help of her class mates and EMS technicians, the team then placed the injured onto long boards and loaded them into ambulances.

The single passenger of the truck was airlifted to a nearby hospital, Airman Waldron added.

"Military training was a vital part in preparation for, and our ability to handle such an event," said Airman Waldron. "Everyone worked extremely well as a team applying our training to this real-world emergency without hesitation."