AIR FORCE AIRMAN AIDS CIVILIANS IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENT

FROM: U.S. AIR FORCE
Airman saves life, earns city's recognition
by Eric M. White
910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

3/8/2013 - YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AFNS) -- In the early morning, you're driving through the city when you see two men pushing a stalled vehicle. You stop to see if they need help, and another vehicle strikes the two men against their car, fracturing one man's leg and severing the other's below the knee. The victim with the severed leg is bleeding profusely and showing signs of shock. What do you do?

The morning of Feb. 5, 2013, Senior Airman Steve Cresanto, an air transportation journeyman with Youngstown Air Reserve Station's 76th Aerial Port Squadron, was driving through the city when this scenario became reality, forcing him to make quick decisions.

Jawkwan Rudolph, one of the victims, had the most serious injuries.

"His leg was amputated," Cresanto said. "You want to stop the hemorrhaging, so I applied a tourniquet."

"I didn't have a tourniquet there, so I made one. I made the tourniquet out of the individual's belt and a windshield wiper from the car that struck them," Cresanto said.

Cresanto then fashioned a splint for the second victim's fractured leg using an ice scraper and another belt.

When first responders arrived at the scene of the accident, they asked Cresanto where he learned to do what he did, stating that his actions likely saved Rudolph's life. Cresanto credited the self-aid and buddy care training he receives annually as an Air Force reservist.

"We do it every single year, do the training, and I never thought I would actually use it in the field. It turns out I did, and I am glad I had the training," Cresanto said.

SABC training includes basic life support and limb-saving techniques to help injured persons survive until medical help arrives.

Charles Sammarone, the Youngstown city mayor, presented Cresanto with an award on behalf of the city at a city council meeting March 6.

Detective/Sergeant Patricia Garcar, one of the first responders to the accident, recommended Cresanto for the award and presented at the council meeting her account of what unfolded the morning of the accident.

"I was just so impressed with what he did," Garcar said. "He did not have to stop and didn't have to offer the assistance that he did, and it just amazed me."

Cresanto is one of more than 1,600 Citizen Airmen stationed at Youngstown ARS.

"This is just another amazing example of the Airmen that we have here and the tie that we have to the community," said Col. James D. Dignan, the 910th Airlift Wing commander. "There's a sense of family here at the 910th Airlift Wing."

　

AIRMAN HERO SAVES DROWING GIRL

Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert Proffitt recently pulled a young girl from the ocean after a riptide pulled her out too far at Sullivan's Island, S.C. Proffitt faced another life-saving moment when he saved a co-worker who was choking on a turkey sandwich. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Tom Brading
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Face of Defense: Airman Saves Little Girl at Beach
By Air Force Airman 1st Class Tom Brading
Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs Office

JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C., Aug. 15, 2012 - Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert Proffitt reacted quickly at the beach to save the life of a drowning little girl.
　
It started out as a beautiful weekend summer day on the ocean at Sullivan's Island, S.C.
　
Desperate cries for help were echoing faintly over the rolling ocean waves. The pleas were from a 7-year-old girl, pulled out past the breakers by a violent riptide and with every scream her weakened body gave in a little more to the powerful ocean current.
　
Proffitt, who's assigned to the 373rd Training Squadron here, was nearby enjoying a day at the beach with his wife and children. He was wading far out in the water and heard the girl's cries for help.
　
"I could see her more than 100 yards from the beach," Proffitt said. "I didn't have time to think about it. I just reacted."
　
Proffitt swam out to the girl. By the time he reached her, all he could see was her hair swaying effortlessly with the tide. Her body had slipped beneath the water. He pulled her head above water and she took a deep breath, but she had no energy to move.
　
"Had I arrived shortly after the moment I did, I would have never seen her," Proffitt said.
　
After grabbing the girl, he looked back toward the beach -- he had never been this far from shore. He couldn't feel the ocean bottom and the girl was clutching to his back as he slowly began paddling toward the beach.
　
"Every movement was a struggle," Proffitt said. "I had already used so much energy. Just keeping my head above water seemed to be a challenge. However, I kept thinking to myself: 'Do not let her die,' and so I kept fighting."
　
Proffitt continued fighting until he reached the shore. Once he felt the sand under his feet, he knew he was close enough to yell for help. A group of people brought both Proffitt and the girl safely back onto the beach.
　
The moment Proffitt was on dry land, he fell to his knees and stared up into the sky.
　
"It was a miracle," he said.
　
The little girl was safely returned to her parents.
　
However, this wasn't the first time Proffitt was challenged with the task of saving someone's life.
　
Months prior to the beach incident, Proffitt happened to be at the right place at the right time during the lunch hour at work. Air Force Staff Sgt. Michael Semmerling was eating a turkey sandwich when the unthinkable happened.
　
"I was eating turkey because it's supposed to be healthy," Semmerling said. "But, after I took a bite, I began choking. I couldn't breathe."
　
Semmerling attempted to cough the turkey up by pounding his chest with his fist, but nothing seemed to work. He ran down the hall, his face turning from red to blue, when he stumbled into Proffitt's office.
　
"When he came in to my office, I had no idea what was wrong," Proffitt said. "But when I looked at his face, it was shades of blue, red and purple. I knew I had to react."
　
Without hesitation, Proffitt jumped from his desk and spun Semmerling, a 220-pound man, 180 degrees with ease and began doing the Heimlich maneuver. Proffitt continued monitoring the condition of his friend, and after a few thrusts, the turkey that was stuck in Semmerling's throat shot across the room.
　
"If it wasn't for Sgt. Proffitt, I wouldn't be here today," Semmerling said. "He is a hero."
　
Proffitt insists that he isn't a hero.
　
"I'm no hero," Proffitt said. "I've just been put into situations that required me to react. The Air Force has taught me lifesaving skills, and the importance of reacting quickly."