Cadets aid crash victim on I-25, use Self Aid Buddy Care

  • Published
  • By Amber Baillie
  • Academy Spirit staff writer
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Two cadets used their Air Force Academy training to aid a man who smashed through a guard rail and slammed into a light pole while traveling south on I-25 in his SUV last month.

Cadets 3rd Class Zach Morrow and John Kolbo used their Self Aid Buddy Care training, which all Airmen receive through their career, to help the young man who told Morrow he'd fallen asleep at the wheel.

Although not every Airman will have to use this training to save a life, on Oct. 13 Morrow and Kolbo learned it can give someone just the help they need in an emergency situation.

Around midnight, Morrow and Kolbo were about five miles from the Academy, traveling south on I-25, when they watched a Chevy Suburban crash through a guard rail, veer off the road and hit a highway light pole.

"The front of the SUV was completely crumpled in, the left tire was gone and the air bag had deployed," Morrow said. "We saw the accident and immediately thought, 'Someone could seriously be hurt.'"

The two cadets pulled over and sprinted toward the crushed SUV. They discovered a young, disoriented male sitting in the driver's seat with a minor cut on his face.

"He was hyperventilating and said he'd fallen asleep at the wheel," Morrow said. "Referencing what I learned from SABC training, we treated him for shock and focused on calming him down so he could catch his breath."

Morrow said he was concerned about the driver's mental state and informed him he and Kolbo had received emergency first-aid training.

"He said he was a college student and wouldn't be able to pay for the accident," Morrow said. "He said his life was ruined. I kept a close eye on him because I didn't want him to do anything stupid or unsafe because he was upset."

Morrow reached for the man's cell phone and asked him if there was anyone in the area he could call.

"He was so worked up, he couldn't even work his phone," Morrow said. "We were about to call the police when an officer arrived. Someone else had made the call."

Morrow said the SABC training allowed the cadets to maintain their composure during an abnormal, stressful situation.

"Prior to the Academy, I had no medical training," he said. "Looking back, I'm really happy with how Kolbo and I were able to stay calm and look at the situation from a logical standpoint. The driver of the SUV thanked us for helping him."

Morrow received SABC training here during Commandant Training Weekend, Sept. 11-13, learning basic life-saving techniques in airway management, bleeding control and treating shock.

The training consists of basic life-saving and limb-saving procedures, typically used in combat situations, to initially treat injured Airmen until advanced medical care is available. All Airmen are required to complete annual SABC training every 24 months.
Cadet 2nd Class Joseph Hays, Cadet in-Charge of SABC training this year, said cadets receive the training during major events such as Basic Cadet Training and Expeditionary Survival and Evasion Training as well as attend refresher sessions throughout the semester.

"With knowledge comes confidence, and with confidence comes calmness," he said. "If you're able to stay calm in an emergency situation and think on your feet as these two cadets did, it's impressive."

Hays said he thinks everyone should know the basics of CPR, First-Aid and how to treat a threatening injury.

"If for some reason there's heavy traffic or medical personnel can't arrive in time, it's imperative you know how to stabilize an injured individual, even if it's yourself," he said. "You're rendering aid and it can definitely save a life."

Hays was a lifeguard in high school but expanded his medical knowledge and experience here by completing the Emergency Medical Technician course.

"It's something I'm passionate about and have a reasonable amount of expertise on," he said. "I want to be a pilot and may face a combat situation. I've enjoyed helping with SABC training because I've loved being able to impart knowledge that's incredibly important."

Airmen need to take the training seriously, Hays said.

"When you hear of an event like Cadet Morrow and Cadet Kolbo helping someone in a car accident, you know it's an important skill to have and an important skill to practice," he said.

Airmen can encounter the need for SABC training anywhere, Morrow said.

"Even a little knowledge can really help someone," he said. "Instead of standing on the side lines in shock, you're able to fall back on your training and know exactly what to do."