SCRHEIVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Even though it is just in time training for Airmen to certify on Self-Aid Buddy Care, it is not often they get to apply the skills in a real-life situation.
Staff Sgt. Jefrey Wayne Davis, military satellite communications transmissions maintenance technician, with the 4th Space Operations Squadron, had such an opportunity in front of his home March 17.
Davis had just finished lunch when he heard a loud noise he likened to something large falling off the back of a truck.
“I scanned the streets from my window and saw a black car laying on its driver’s side,” he said. “I told my wife that there was a car flipped on its side and I was going to check on the people and make sure everyone was OK,” Davis said.
His wife, Senior Airman Whitney Davis, student management with the 50th Operations Support Squadron, says his timing was incredible.
“We were relaxing in our home downtown,” she said. “My husband drew up our window blinds just as the incident was occurring. If he hadn't seen the accident from our window, I'm not sure he would have been able to help. My first impression was that it was the wind, as the gusts were strong that day.”
As he made his way towards the accident, which occurred at the intersection of St. Vrain and Nevada Ave, he called 911.
Davis said, his thought process was he wanted to ensure paramedics were on their way. If anyone was in the vehicle, he wanted to get them out safely as soon as possible in case the car lit on fire.
“I saw a young woman in her early 20's sitting inside the overturned vehicle trying to get the passenger door open,” Davis said. “She informed me it was stuck and wouldn't open. At this point I started helping her to get the door open. I directed her to push while I pulled.”
Shortly after the ambulance’s arrival, Davis and the woman were able to get the door open.
“I held the door with one arm and helped her out with the other,” he said. “The emergency medical technicians at this point took her and I got back from the car as I noticed that there was some fluids leaking from it.”
“She gave me a thumbs up to let me know she was OK before I went back to my house,” Davis said.
His wife said when he returned to the house, he stated his adrenaline wasn’t even pumping.
“He is so accustomed to making split-second decisions that the situation didn't faze him,” she said. “I think what allowed him to be effective in this situation was his courage and his comfort with taking charge of a situation. I'm very proud of him for his ability to make quick decisions under pressure.”
Davis attributes his quick response to his Air Force training, since military members are constantly training to be ready for incidents at a moment’s notice.
“I've pursued life-saving skills training in every step of my Air Force career,” he said. “Everything from a Self-Aid Buddy Care instructor course, to a cardiopulmonary resuscitation instructor course, and Combat Life Savers course.”
While Davis hopes he never has to utilize the life-saving training he’s received, he will continue to train and advises other Airmen to be ready for whatever life or the Air Force has in store for them.
“In the heat of the moment, you don’t want to realize you’re not prepared to handle a situation,” he said. “This is why the Air Force emphasizes readiness. We have to be ready at any time; it can potentially save lives.”