Sailor’s Quick Response Saves a Life

Photo By Senior Chief Petty Officer Anastasia McCarroll | Commander, Naval Medical Center San Diego, Rear Adm. Christine M. Bruzek-Kohler, presents the Naval Marine Corps Achievement medal to Seaman Joshua J. Fallick assigned to Branch Medical Clinic Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, for utilizing his medical training to save the life of an injured motorcyclist. On Aug. 24, Fallick along with three other Sailors, arrived at the scene of a five-vehicle accident while driving Northbound on Interstate 15 near Adams Avenue exit to render medical assistance.  

SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES

05.21.2010

Courtesy Story

Naval Medical Center San Diego

By Petty Officer 3rd Class Sean Evans

SAN DIEGO -- Two Sailors from Naval Medical Center San Diego were awarded Navy Marine Corps Achievement medals, May 21, for utilizing their medical training to save the life of an injured motorcyclist.

On Aug. 24, 2009, the Sailors arrived at the scene of a five-vehicle accident while driving Northbound on Interstate 15 near Adams Avenue exit at approximately 6 p.m.

The Sailors pulled over and immediately provided medical assistance. A total of four Sailors were involved with the accident but Petty Officer 3rd Class Daniel Lopez and Hospitalman Josh Fallick both assigned to Naval Medical Center San Diego were instrumental in providing life saving skills. Seaman Chad Sais assigned to the USS Milius and Petty Officer 3rd Class Danive Sanders also assigned to Naval Medical Center San Diego helped in assisting passengers in the vehicles involved in the accident.

“Being a firefighter EMT [Emergency Medical Technician] prior to the Navy and having a lot of medical knowledge, I told Lopez to pullover and I’ll run up there and see what’s going on,” said Fallick.

Sanders and Sais began moving from vehicle to vehicle checking on passengers and rendering aid, while Lopez and Fallick rushed to the motorcyclist to provide medical aid.

Even though an injury was not visible during the initial assessment, the motorcyclist was laying on his left side motionless in a pool of his own blood. Lopez and Fallick preceded to log-roll the motorcyclist to try to find where the arterial bleeding was coming from. After rolling the man, they found he had an open compound fracture to the left forearm, which was almost completely severed.

“It’s a natural reaction,” said Fallick. “He was pale when I got up there and instinctively I had to react, it was either the man was going to die or I was going to attempt to save his life.”

Lopez and Fallick periodically communicated with the motorcyclist by asking him questions in an effort to help him retain consciousness.

“There was no place to apply direct pressure. I was in my Navy Service Uniform and attempted to use my belt to apply a tourniquet, but it didn’t work,” said Lopez.

Sais took off his shirt and gave it to Fallick to use as a tourniquet. Fallick applied the tourniquet to the left forearm below the elbow two inches above the wound. Fallick re-secured the tourniquet every minute to ensure the blood flow to the limb had stopped.

“After graduating from Corpsman A-School and FMSS [Field Medical Service School] about a year ago, the skills I learned there came in handy in this situation,” said Lopez.

The Sailors were able to keep the motorcyclist alive until an Emergency Medical Service ambulance arrived on the scene, approximately 30 minutes later.

“I speak for myself and my other three shipmates when I say we are very proud of our accomplishment, dedication and attention to detail,” said Lopez.

For more information on NMCSD visit: http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcsd/Pages/default.aspx

• Date Taken: 05.21.2010
• Date Posted: 08.02.2010 12:25
• Story ID: 53825
• Location: SAN DIEGO, CA, US