Luke reservist saves child

Published July 9, 2015
By Staff Sgt. Lausanne Kinder
944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Tech. Sgt. Jude Joseph, a medical technician with the 944th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, saved the life of a child who was found at the bottom of a swimming pool, July 2.

Joseph, responding as an eight-year veteran of the Phoenix Police Department, was the first to arrive on scene of a 911 call. He entered the backyard of a residence to find two small children lying on the patio.

"My immediate thought was that I have two babies who need help," Joseph said. "I needed to triage the worst injured but still provide some care to the other baby and update Phoenix Fire with information."

Quickly assessing the situation, he instructed an adult male who was with the children to monitor the child who was vomiting and then proceeded to administer CPR/rescue breathing to other child who was unresponsive.

Joseph continued to provide care until Phoenix Fire arrived on scene.

"Both children were transported to a local hospital and doctors are reporting that not only are the children expected to survive this near tragedy, but they are cautiously optimistic the children will recover with no permanent effects of the drowning.

Captain Crowley and doctors at the hospital all agree; Officer Joseph's immediate response to the home, his calmness under great pressure and his training all contributed to the recovery of the 1 and 2 year old victims," according to an official statement made by the Phoenix Police Department.

"My EMT training and CPR are what helped to remind me to keep the first baby's airway clear due to vomiting," said Joseph. "The second baby was checked for C-A-B (Circulation, Airway and Breathing)."

Joseph has been with the 944th ASTS for almost 12 years and credits his success to both military and civilian training he's received.

"The streets of Phoenix are where I get to practice my EMT/CPR skills the most," said Joseph. "This has not been the first time trying to save lives of the citizens [living in] Phoenix. Some situations have not turned out so well, but to be able to assist in saving the lives of two babies in one incident using my training as a med tech was great."