Dover reservist saves two lives

Published Dec. 4, 2011
By Capt. Marnee A.C. Losurdo
512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- What are the odds of saving two people's lives in the span of three months?

Pretty likely if you ask Master Sgt. Rob Kelley.

The 512th Security Forces Squadron reservist here saved a woman from carbon monoxide poisoning in July and a fellow wing member from choking in September.

Kelley, a full-time employee with the Sussex Boot Camp Correctional Institute, took a part-time job as a security officer at Sea Colony resort in Bethany Beach, Del., in the fall of 2010 to earn some extra money to assist his family.

He was working at the Sea Colony the evening of July 3 when he received a call about a possible gas leak at one of the apartments.

"Before I got my vehicle parked, a lady came out saying she could help me," he said. "She was a nurse from Pennsylvania on vacation in Delaware."

Kelley said he directed a fellow co-worker to call 911 to get the fire department on scene. His partner then secured the area and started evacuating the building until emergency responders arrived, said Kelley. Meanwhile, Kelley and the nurse went inside the apartment where two residents, an 80-year-old man and his 93-year-old sister were on the floor unconscious. They carried the woman outside.

"She was in poor condition, and the nurse performed CPR," said Kelley who then went back inside to get the man."

As Kelley emerged from the apartment, the fire department and State Police arrived on scene. The woman, Grace Manuel, and her brother, Joseph Manuel, were taken to Beebe Medical Center in Lewes, Del. The woman survived but unfortunately, her brother did not.
According to Kelley, Joseph Manuel's death was due to carbon monoxide poisoning from a running automobile parked in the garage of their Sea Colony home.

Joe Hopple, Bethany Beach Fire company, said the carbon monoxide levels were so high they were beyond the range of their fire department's gas meters, which registers up to 999 parts per million. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines state anything more than 35 ppm is dangerous.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas produced by automobiles, small gasoline engines, fuel burning appliances, and burning charcoal and wood. Each year, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning, more than 20,000 visit the emergency room and more than 4,000 are hospitalized, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Grace Manuel's life was probably saved due to the death of her pet cat, said Kelley who read the reports on the incident. The Manuels were upset about their pet's death and called their niece who then drove to their apartment from Rehoboth Beach. When she arrived, she found her aunt and uncle unconscious.

Although the cat prompted the call to the niece and response officials, it was Kelley who carried the woman out. But, he doesn't consider himself a hero.

"The nurse was the hero; I just did my job," he said.

His boss, however, disagrees.

"Had (Rob) not taken this quick decisive action, it's likely the woman would not have survived," said Terry Cornelius, Sea Colony security manager. "He is always eager to assume any task he is assigned. He has truly been an asset to our security team here at Sea Colony."

It was at his other job with the Air Force Reserve where he saved a fellow unit member from choking.

Kelley had just got back from a training exercise in September and was performing his annual tour. He was eating lunch at the dining facility here.

The cop turned to talk to Master Sgt. Marshall Gillespie, 512th Airlift Control Flight communications manager, who was sitting at the next table. Kelley noticed an Airman at the table next to Gillespie was turning increasing shades of red.

"I approached him and asked if he was choking; and, he gave the (universal choking) sign that he was," said Kelley who served 10 years in the Army and 15 in the Air Force. "I told him what I was going to do and proceeded to perform the Heimlich maneuver twice and a piece of potato flew out."

The Heimlich maneuver is an emergency technique for preventing suffocation when a person's airway is blocked by food or an object.

Unfortunately, more people are familiar with the name than how to conduct the procedure, according to Chief Master Sgt. David Townson, 512th Aerospace Medicine Squadron health services management chief.

"I didn't even realize the guy was choking, but (Kelley) was right on it," said Gillespie who added he'd never seen anyone choke before. "I was impressed with his fast reaction. I told him he just may have saved this guy's life."

Choking and suffocation is the third leading cause of home and community death in the United States, with food being the leading culprit for choking incidents, according to the National Safety Council. Common signs of choking are not being able to breathe, cough or speak, making high-pitched sounds when breathing, and when lips and fingernails turn blue. The Heimlich maneuver can be used on adults or children, but is not recommended for infants less than one year old.

"The Heimlich maneuver is a very successful procedure, but most people have not performed it, so Sergeant Kelley did an awesome job," said Townson. "His quick response led to a great end to a situation that could have been a catastrophe."

Emergency personnel came on scene and took the Airman's vitals to ensure he was alright. Medical personnel released the Airman who went back to work, said Kelley.

For both situations, Kelley credits his training with the military and his experience as a correctional officer for his quick response.

Kelley said he is glad his training came in handy, and he was in the right place at the right time ... twice.

All clear