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Grissom Airman aids civilian during medical emergency

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Mota
  • 434th ARW Public Affairs
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. --  
When a complete stranger was gasping for air, shaking and seizing, a Grissom Airman sprang into action.

Tech. Sgt. James Walejewski, 434th Force Support Squadron training technician, used his Air Force self-aid-and-buddy-care training to provide care during a medical emergency at a sandwich shop outside Grissom Feb. 7.

For Walejewski, his February military training weekend started off like any other until his lunch hour, when he heard a gasping noise coming from a man standing in line behind him at the restaurant.

"Right away, I knew something wasn't right," said Walejewski. "I initially thought he might just be light-headed because he was leaning against a rail, but then I observed his hands shaking, and he appeared to be extremely disoriented."

That's when Walejewski's 12 years of military SABC and civilian first-aid training kicked into effect.

"At that point, I knew the guy was having a seizure, and my first priorities were to ensure he was breathing and not going to hurt himself," he explained. "After sitting the man down, we checked his breathing, and it was abnormal, but at least he was breathing."

"The first thing you do is check for an adequate airway and protect the seizing patient from harming themselves," explained John Ireland, Grissom Fire Department fire chief. "By sitting the person down, Walejewski most likely prevented further injuries such as head and spinal injuries that can often be worse than a seizure itself."

With the seizing man unable to speak, Walejewski said he attempted to get medical and family information from the patient's phone while he kept him calm and another person called emergency personnel.

"I stayed with him, trying to keep him calm, until an ambulance arrived, but then I knew it was time for the professionals to take over," said Walejewski. "I knew a large crowd of people standing around him could potentially make the situation worse, and I had already done everything I could do to help."

While Air Force training technicians, who assist Airmen with their education benefits, don't normally deal with medical situations on a daily basis, this incident shows how important SABC training can be, said Master Sgt. Deborah Wilson-Strong, 434th FSS assistant chief of training and Walejewski's supervisor.

"In our career field, we never think we're going to have to use our SABC, but situations like this are proof of how important it actually is," explained Wilson-Strong. "Even though each real-world scenario is different, the training we go through prepares us with the knowledge we need to handle these types of situations."

While situations do vary, annual hands-on training ensures Airmen can adapt and remain calm when confronted with medical situations, agreed Walejewski.

"During training, we are always in a classroom, and the dummy is laying down; in this situation the guy was actually standing up, and my first response was to sit him down so he wouldn't fall," he added. "All of this stuff is going through your head, but the repetitive training helped me remain calm and think the situation through."

For Wilson-Strong, Walejewski's response to the situation came as no surprise, she said.

"When I heard about the incident, I wasn't surprised to hear Sergeant Walejewski helped," said Wilson-Strong. "That's just the type of person he is; always willing to help when the situation requires."

The 434th Air Refueling Wing is the largestKC-135R Stratotankerunit in theAir Force Reserve Command.Airmen from the 434th ARW routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission and U.S. strategic objectives.

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