Sailor's Quick Action Saves A Life

By Seaman Roselyn Kirkelie, Naval Air Station Pensacola Public Affairs

PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Tyson Bankston was on leave with his family at a restaurant in Pensacola, Fla., July 9 when he was approached by a petite elderly woman.

She calmly asked if he could do the Heimlich maneuver and motioned to a woman sitting at a table nearby. Bankston could see she was in trouble and rushed over to aid the choking woman. Bankston's wife, Misty, later told him that the woman was already turning blue.

"I did it just like the book. [I asked,] 'Do you need help?' and all I could hear was gurgling, so I did the Heimlich maneuver," said Bankston, stationed with Navy Cargo Handling Battalion 1 out of Williamsburg, Va.

With three or four upward thrusts, the obstruction was dislodged. Bankston stayed with the woman until she was calm and made sure no further medical assistance was needed.

"After it was all over she said 'thank you' and sat back down," he said.

Pam Cooper, a waitress at the restaurant who witnessed the event said that while he was not in uniform, it was clear Bankston was a service member.

"You could tell he was military. He just had the look," said Cooper. "It was refreshing for someone so young to be willing to help out."

Bankston had no extensive prior medical training or experience. He had attended a first aid and CPR class in June 2011 as an indoctrination requirement for his new command.

"I've heard junior Sailors saying 'why do we have to do this, we have corpsmen,' but the corpsmen aren't always around," said Bankston. "I actually learned from the training and it worked."

Bankston's father Rick wasn't at the restaurant but heard about it through other people who witnessed it.

"When I heard about it, I said 'that's my boy,'" he said. "Thank God he was in the right place at the right time, and that he had the training and he did the right thing. We're just so proud of him."

The Navy currently requires Sailors who work in specific ratings to renew their first aid and CPR certification every two years. However, all Sailors are encouraged to gain CPR and first-aid certification through the American Red Cross.

"I was thinking as I went through the CPR class, 'God forbid I ever have to do the Heimlich, how much time would I waste trying to figure out if I have the right place or if I've got the right hand position, did I do it hard enough or too hard,'" Bankston said, "but when I did it I didn't even think about the 'what-ifs.' I just did it."

Active-duty military and DoD civilians can register for CPR classes by using ESAMS or contacting their local safety office.