Fast acting Medical Airmen save a life

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Lawrence Sena
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Two 92nd Medical Group Airmen, along with Fairchild Fire and Emergency Services, acted quickly in response to a shopper experiencing respiratory distress Nov. 2 at the Fairchild Air Force Base Commissary.

Upon arrival, Fire and Emergency teams found Senior Airman Kayla Peña and Senior Airman Julie Fink, 92nd Medical Operations Squadron medical technicians, performing first-aid on the unconscious shopper.

“Fink and Peña being there was perfect,” said Staff Sgt. Damien Hansen, 92nd MDOS medical technician. “Without them, emergency medical teams would not have been alerted and prepared as quickly as they were.”

Peña and Fink worked with fire and emergency teams to perform chest compressions and rescue breathing on the unresponsive patient, performing two rounds of CPR and a defibrillator shock.

“Working with the base ambulance was huge,” said Jason Satcher, 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department lead fire fighter. “We knew their capabilities right when we arrived on scene, allowing us to come in right where they left off and help them out.”

Once the patient became responsive, Fink and Peña assisted with providing the patient oxygen and checking vitals.

“Everything was flawless and it felt good knowing we helped give someone a chance to go home to their family,” Fink and Peña said. “Having the fire department and medical teams there, it was good to see everyone working together to provide life-saving measures.”

Fink and Peña’s ability to remain calm and controlled throughout the emergency, along with the diligence of the fire and medical first-responders, helped stabilize the patient for transfer to ambulatory services for further medical attention.