FORT POLK, La. — Among the definitions of “hero” in the Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary are these: An outstanding warrior or soldier; a person admired for qualities; one that shows great courage; the hero of a rescue.
That definition fits 1st Sgt. Andrew Baxter, Alpha Troop, 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division to a “T.”
Not only has the 20-year Army veteran proven his mettle on the field of combat with five deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, he can now add “the hero of a rescue” to his resume.
Aug. 26 was a typical warm, sultry summer Sunday for Baxter and his golfing buddies — Navy veteran Frank Franklin, Billy Voorhees and Bobby Edelen — as they approached the second tee of Links on Bayou Golf Course in Alexandria.
“I had hit my tee shot and was standing by our carts, Baxter said. “The other three were getting ready to hit their shots.”
Baxter said Franklin had just hit his shot when Edelen screamed Franklin’s name.
“I look up and Billy (Voorhees) was stiff as board, face on the ground,” Baxter said. “He collapsed straight down. Frank ran up to him, flipped him over and began CPR.”
Baxter said he immediately called 9-1-1 and stayed on the phone with an operator about 90 seconds.
“Luckily, one of the EMTs (emergency medical technician on the ambulance) also played golf there so when I said the second tee box he knew right where to go,” Baxter said. “I then handed the phone to Bobby so he could talk them to our location.”
Relying on his combat lifesaver training, Baxter said he did a casualty assessment on Voorhees and found a faint pulse that was getting weaker and weaker.
“He couldn’t breathe,” Baxter said. “His jaw was locked together and he was obviously in AFib.”
AFib is atrial fibrillation, a quivering or irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications.
After completing his assessment, Baxter said he replaced Franklin on chest compressions while Franklin began mouth-to-mouth CPR.
“We kept him alive for about 13 minutes before the EMTs got there,” Baxter said. “I broke three of his ribs and his breastbone. I was trying to push his chest down to China.”
Voorhees was unresponsive when the EMTs arrived, Baxter said. He said gave the EMTs a quick assessment of Voorhees’s vitals and kept the chest compressions going until the rescue workers got the defibrillator out and ripped his friend’s shirt off to hook him up.
“At about 14 minutes into it, the EMTs assumed the chest compressions,” Baxter said. “He flat-lined a couple of times but they were able to get his pulse back so they could load him up and take him to Rapides Regional Medical Center.”
After regaining their composure, Baxter said he, Edelen and Franklin went to the hospital and met with Voorhees’ family and doctor.
“The doctor told Frank and I that if we had not remembered our military training in combat lifesaving, then Frank would have been dead,” Baxter said. “We were able to maintain oxygen flow to the brain and he had no loss of brain functions. He’s got a long road to complete recovery and being able to hit the golf course again, but he’s still Billy.”
Thinking back on that August morning, Baxter said he couldn’t stand by while his friend was in obvious distress.
“I think because of military training in combat lifesaving skills, it was an instantaneous reaction,” he said. “I didn’t have to try and figure out what to do; the training kicked in and I went straight to assessing the casualty, just like you’re taught at Combat Lifesaver School. I went through the training back in 1998 and I still remember it. As soon as he went down, I went straight into action and didn’t have to think about it.”
Baxter said Soldiers are trained to do chest compressions until you physically can’t do them anymore or you are relieved by someone else. “That’s why I replaced Frank on chest compressions when I handed the phone to Bobby — Frank was certainly capable, but he was a little older and it felt like I was in better shape and could stay at longer if need be,” Baxter said.
Baxter said it’s important that everyone is trained in lifesaving skills.
“You never know when you’re going to be in a situation like that, whether it’s the Heimlich maneuver on an infant or CPR on a friend,” he said. “In talking with the family at the hospital, none of them knew CPR. They all agreed they needed to take a class on it. I was amazed that none of them knew basic CPR or chest compressions.”
The first sergeant has used the incident as an opportunity to teach his Soldiers the importance of being prepared.
“We’re telling our Soldiers in formation that it’s important when they receive CLS training, that they remember it,” he said. “There is a golf course on Fort Polk with older players, there are gyms with all age groups, and sometimes even fit Soldiers who have trauma can lapse into cardiac trouble, so you never know when you might be in a position that calls for CPR.”
Baxter said he’s happy he was there for his friend.
“That way Billy got a second chance,” he said. “I was just doing my duty, it’s what we (Soldiers) do. I don’t know if I could have lived with myself if I had stood there and not done anything.”
| Date Taken: | 11.09.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 11.09.2018 09:36 |
| Story ID: | 299373 |
| Location: | FORT POLK, LOUISIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 246 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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