|
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. - A hero is defined as a person
who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements or
noble qualities. Most people may think of a legendary figure with
great strength or abilities when thinking of a hero, but more often
than not, the true heroes are normal everyday people who have a
heart to do good and the strength to step up when called upon.
On Jan. 28, 2016, near a busy intersection on 10th Avenue South
in Great Falls, Montana, two Airmen showed heroic qualities when
they stopped to offer assistance to a little girl who had just had a
seizure and was next to lifeless in her mother's arms.
|
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Shaun Russell 341st Security Support Squadron NCO in charge of resources and logistics, left, and Staff Sgt. Joe Stalzer, 819th REDHORSE pavement and equipment apprentice, after an interview with local media at the Grizzly Bend at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., Jan. 29, 2016. Russell and Stalzer both have a background in first aid and have taken annual military-required CPR training, which they accredit with helping them save a young girl's life. (U.S. Air Force photo
by Airman Collin Schmidt)
|
On the way back from the emergency room, Denisse Willis
noticed that her 18-month-old daughter Aryanna had turned
blue and was not breathing while riding in her car seat.
Frantically, she pulled over to rush to the back seat and
see what had happened to her daughter.
On the
busiest street in Great Falls, it would be readily apparent
that something had gone wrong to people driving by. It was
then that Jack Mathews and Rebecca Houle pulled over to
offer assistance to the frantic mother. With Mathews
blocking traffic, Willis rushed her daughter to the side of
the road and laid her in the grass.
It was then that
a group of Airmen running to get some parts for their shop
saw the commotion and pulled over to offer assistance.
Thinking the passengers of the vehicle had been in a car
accident, they ran to help. When they arrived, they came to
the realization that it was no accident but that a little
girl needed immediate medical assistance.
“Myself and
two other people were going out and getting some stuff for
my vehicle section,” said Tech. Sgt. Shaun Russell, 341st
Security Support Squadron NCO in charge of resources and
logistics. “We thought that it was an accident and all of
the sudden, there was a lady out in the road holding a baby.
A guy jumped out in front of the truck and said the baby had
quit breathing.”
After running over to the group,
Russell started to evaluate the situation.
“And then
all of the sudden a staff sergeant from the REDHORSE
squadron showed up,” said Russell.
The second
individual was Staff Sgt. Joe Stalzer, 819th REDHORSE
squadron pavement and equipment apprentice.
“I was
just on my way to an appointment and I saw one of the
civilians helping assist the child,” said Stalzer.
Stalzer parked his vehicle and ran to the group. After
arriving, both Stalzer and Russell took the baby from the
mother and started performing CPR.
“We were able to
use the jaw-thrust maneuver to open up her airway,” said
Stalzer. “Then we started assessing the child to find out
what the causes could have been.”
Later on it was
determined that Aryanna had suffered a febrile seizure,
which is caused by a rapid rise in fever. After performing
CPR, Russell had noticed foam and bubbles coming from the
child's mouth indicating that she was breathing again.
“She started showing signs of recovery,” said Stalzer.
“This was truly a God thing.”
“The other two
personnel that were with me: Staff Sgt. Zachary Walgenbach,
341st Security Forces Squadron NCO in charge of resource and
sustainment support and Senior Airman Aaron Salinas, 341st
Missile Security Forces Squadron RAS support, took their
fleeces off and wrapped them around the baby to help her
stay warm,” said Russell.
“I would also like to give
them credit for the assistance they offered,” he continued.
Shortly after, paramedics arrived and took Aryanna
back to the hospital.
All the airmen and civilians
involved who are now called heroes consider it just another
day on the job and are happy the little girl pulled through.
Currently, Aryanna is back at home with her mother and
father.
“I am super thankful,” said Willis. “Not for
just the military members, but also for the civilians that
pulled over without any questions. I cannot thank everyone
enough.”
“It was definitely the right time at the
right place,” said Russell. “I don't know if there could be
anything more perfect timing than that.”
By U.S. Air Force Airman Collin Schmidt
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2016
Comment on this article |
