Aircrew training, diversion saves Soldier

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Tom Menker
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Safety
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  Aircrews must display skill and ingenuity in handling difficult or unusual situations. While flying a combat mission supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom recently, a C-130 Hercules crew’s skillful actions prevented a potential loss of life.

After picking up more than 50 Soldiers in Iraq, the aircraft began leveling off at cruising altitude. The two loadmasters, Staff Sgts. Tracy Hill and Joe Mooney, were handing out sandwiches and bottled water to Soldiers in the aircraft’s cargo compartment. Suddenly, one Soldier slumped over, sweating profusely, they said.

Concerned for the Soldier, the loadmasters said they tried to wake him, but he did not respond. While taking his vital signs, they said they noticed he was hot to the touch. He had pinpointed pupils and a weak pulse and was unresponsive to basic neural tests, and he was lapsing in and out of consciousness.

“He had all the symptoms of heat exhaustion,” said Sergeant Moodey, who recently cross-trained to be a loadmaster after serving four years as a medic.

Using their self-aid buddy care skills and life-support training, the loadmasters said they cooled the Soldier with water and applied oxygen from a temporary oxygen supply system passengers can use for a few minutes during emergencies.

“He (would open) open his eyes for two or three seconds and then lose consciousnesses again, so we knew the situation was getting worse,” Sergeant Hill said.

The loadmasters said they moved the Soldier to one of their crew spots to apply continuous oxygen from Sergeant Moodey’s flight helmet, which had an ample supply of oxygen.

While moving the Soldier, he again lost consciousness, and Sergeant Moodey contacted the aircraft commander.

“I told him we needed to land, and we needed to land now,” Sergeant Moodey said.

On the flight deck, the crew diverted to an airfield in Iraq to seek medical attention for the Soldier. The loadmasters said they continued administering emergency medical procedures for heat stroke.

Upon landing, Army medics met the aircraft and took the Soldier to the base emergency room for further treatment.

Had the Soldier’s condition not been detected and remedied by the aircrew, it could have resulted in brain damage or death. The situational awareness and quick actions of this aircrew prevented the potential loss of the Soldier’s life, officials said.

As soon as the Soldier was taken from the aircraft, the aircrew took off and finished their mission. (Staff Sgt. William Farrow contributed to this report)