LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, ARIZ. --
The mystique of Friday the 13th has always been linked to negative occurrences. On the afternoon of Friday, July 13, 2014 near the south gate entrance of Luke Air Force Base, Arizona this day will forever also be linked with an opportunity to help people in need.
Three 944thAeromedical Staging Squadron Airmen were returning back to base from lunch that afternoon when an accident between two vehicles occurred near the gate seconds before they arrived.
Tech. Sgt. Mayline Wahinepio, Tech. Sgt. Sara Douglas, and Tech. Sgt. Gregory Alkema, 944th ASTS mental health technicians, noticed the wrecked vehicles and stopped to provide assistance. After being filled in by a witness that the accident involved a service member with another occupant and a woman with three small children, they took charge of the situation.
"It happened really quickly and I think our life experiences and military training played a big factor in how we handled the situation," said Wahinepio.
All three Airmen jumped into action and began checking the occupants of the vehicles involved. After the situation and injuries were assessed, Wahinepio dialed 911 giving the operator the pertinent details while Douglas and Alkema helped those who could be moved, out of their vehicle.
They noticed the SUV with the children was spewing fluid, so removing and getting them to a safe area was crucial.
"I noticed the car was also smoking, after making sure the mother and kids were ok to move we got the family out of the car safely and quickly," said Douglas. "The three of us were a team, acting fast and each of us filled a necessary role without hesitation or confusion."
Due to the quick thinking and reactions of the Airmen, by the time Security Forces arrived and radioed for medical attention all the occupants were safe on the side of the street waiting for medical help to arrive.
Besides the initial shock and an arm injury no one was critically injured. As mental health technicians the ASTS Airmen have training on crisis intervention and traumatic stress response. Additionally, training in Self-Aid Buddy Care also helped in assessing for injuries, safely removing the occupants from the vehicles, and keeping them calm in a safe place away from the busy traffic. As soon as medical attention arrived to take over, the trio quietly returned to work. "These three airmen embody the ASTS vision; any contingency, any place, and anywhere," stated Senior Master Sgt. James King, 944th Aeromedical Staging Squadron First Sergeant. "This time the place was 500ft outside the gate."