Quick reactions from RAF Alconbury firefighters save life

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Brian Stives
  • 501st Combat Support Wing Public Affairs
RAF ALCONBURY, United Kingdom --  The 423rd Civil Engineer Squadron fire emergency services flight responded to a call that a person was unconscious at the Alconbury Middle/High School at around 1 p.m. Aug. 5.

When the crew of seven RAF Alconbury firefighters arrived on-scene, they discovered that Dave White wasn't breathing and his tongue was lodged in his throat.

"We immediately assessed the patient and found that he wasn't breathing or had a pulse," said Chris Hugill, 423rd CES fire emergency services flight firefighter, who along with Firefighter Chris Thorpe attended to Mr. White on the scene. "We then re-positioned Mr. White to open his airway and dislodge his tongue from the back of his throat."

After the first responders cleared White's airway, they began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation. He responded quickly and started gurgling breathing on his own. Firefighters then quickly suctioned his airway until it was clear and attended to him until a host nation ambulance arrived on-scene and transported him to an off-base hospital.

"I have been a certified National Registry Emergency Medical Technician for a few years. When I arrived on scene, thanks to all of my EMT training, my skills kicked right in," said Hugill, who has saved numerous lives both on and off base during his career.

"The 423rd CES firefighters provide first responder medical services to both RAF Alconbury and RAF Molesworth and respond to an average of 70 medical emergencies a year under a Memorandum of Agreement between the 423rd CES fire emergency services flight and the 48th Medical Group at RAF Lakenheath," said Ralph Barone, 423rd CES fire emergency services flight fire chief. "The RAF Alconbury Fire Department has 30 U.S. National Registry Emergency Medical Technicians on staff with the rest of the firefighters certified as Emergency Medical Responders."

White is currently recovering from his injuries.