By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Terrence Siren,
Blue Angels Public Affairs
CHICAGO (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines of the U.S. Navy Flight
Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, were first on the scene to a
single-vehicle automobile accident in Gary, Indiana, August 13, quickly
providing emergency care to an injured motorist.
Seven members of the Blue Angels Maintenance and Support
Team were driving from the nearby Gary/Chicago International Airport, where air
show performers are staged this weekend for the Chicago Air and Water Show. The
Blue Angels came upon a vehicle that appeared to have crashed head-on into the
roadside guard rail with its occupant trapped inside the vehicle.
Pulling to the side of the road, the Blue Angels rushed to
assist the injured motorist. The driver of the vehicle appeared unconscious and
the vehicles doors could not be opened. While Marine Sgt. Adrienne Castillo
immediately telephoned local emergency services, Navy Aviation Electrician's
Mate 1st Class Brian Coffman, Aviation Electrician's Mate 2nd Class Jennifer
Piatek, Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 1st Class Zoltan Prestridge,
Aviation Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Justin Hanks, and Aviation Electronics
Technicians 2nd Class Scott Marquett and George Thiess rushed to assist the
injured motorist. Coffman and Thiess, who is a volunteer firefighter and
emergency medical technician of 12 years with the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire
Company in his home state of Maryland, broke the rear passenger window to enter
the vehicle and aid its lone occupant while Castillo, Prestridge, Marquett,
Hanks, and Piatek directed traffic around the wreck.
"Everyone was calm, cool and collected the entire
time," said Thiess. "We cleared the debris, put the vehicle in park
and turned the engine off. Right after that, I immediately established 'c-spine'
[prehospital cervical spinal immobilization] to prevent further injury."
The driver regained consciousness while the team members
were waiting for emergency services, and Thiess and the others continued to
talk to, care for, and calm the injured driver until Gary Fire Department
arrived.
After Thiess briefed the on-scene medics on what procedures
had already been done, the firefighters of Gary Fire Department Engine 8 took
over, extracting the driver from the vehicle with hydraulic rescue tools and equipment.
The driver is expected to recover from his injuries.
"When you're riding a fire engine or on an emergency
call, you know what to expect, but we're here for an air show, so it initially
caught me off guard," Thiess said. "Fortunately, training took over
and we were able to help out."
"George is an outstanding example of the exemplary
Marines and Sailors that make up the Blue Angels, and our Navy and Marine
Corps," said Blue Angels Commanding Officer and Flight Leader Tom Frosch.
"All of the Sailors and Marines involved with this rescue did exactly what
they are trained to do. I could not be more proud of each and every one of
them."
The Blue Angels are in Chicago this weekend for their
scheduled performance at the Chicago Air and Water Show August 15 and 16.
The mission of the Blue Angels is to showcase the pride and
professionalism of the United States Navy and Marine Corps by inspiring a
culture of excellence and service to country through flight demonstrations and
community outreach.
Since its inception in 1946, the Blue Angels have performed
for more than 484 million fans.
For more information, call the Blue Angels Public Affairs
Office at (850) 452-3955.
The mission of the Blue Angels is to showcase the pride and
professionalism of the United States Navy and Marine Corps by inspiring a
culture of excellence and service to country through flight demonstrations and
community outreach.
Since its inception in 1946, the Blue Angels have performed
for more than 484 million fans.
For more information, call the Blue Angels Public Affairs
Office at (850) 452-3955.
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Terrence Siren,
Blue Angels Public Affairs
CHICAGO (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines of the U.S. Navy Flight
Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, were first on the scene to a
single-vehicle automobile accident in Gary, Indiana, August 13, quickly
providing emergency care to an injured motorist.
Seven members of the Blue Angels Maintenance and Support
Team were driving from the nearby Gary/Chicago International Airport, where air
show performers are staged this weekend for the Chicago Air and Water Show. The
Blue Angels came upon a vehicle that appeared to have crashed head-on into the
roadside guard rail with its occupant trapped inside the vehicle.
Pulling to the side of the road, the Blue Angels rushed to
assist the injured motorist. The driver of the vehicle appeared unconscious and
the vehicles doors could not be opened. While Marine Sgt. Adrienne Castillo
immediately telephoned local emergency services, Navy Aviation Electrician's
Mate 1st Class Brian Coffman, Aviation Electrician's Mate 2nd Class Jennifer
Piatek, Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 1st Class Zoltan Prestridge,
Aviation Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Justin Hanks, and Aviation Electronics
Technicians 2nd Class Scott Marquett and George Thiess rushed to assist the
injured motorist. Coffman and Thiess, who is a volunteer firefighter and
emergency medical technician of 12 years with the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire
Company in his home state of Maryland, broke the rear passenger window to enter
the vehicle and aid its lone occupant while Castillo, Prestridge, Marquett,
Hanks, and Piatek directed traffic around the wreck.
"Everyone was calm, cool and collected the entire
time," said Thiess. "We cleared the debris, put the vehicle in park
and turned the engine off. Right after that, I immediately established 'c-spine'
[prehospital cervical spinal immobilization] to prevent further injury."
The driver regained consciousness while the team members
were waiting for emergency services, and Thiess and the others continued to
talk to, care for, and calm the injured driver until Gary Fire Department
arrived.
After Thiess briefed the on-scene medics on what procedures
had already been done, the firefighters of Gary Fire Department Engine 8 took
over, extracting the driver from the vehicle with hydraulic rescue tools and equipment.
The driver is expected to recover from his injuries.
"When you're riding a fire engine or on an emergency
call, you know what to expect, but we're here for an air show, so it initially
caught me off guard," Thiess said. "Fortunately, training took over
and we were able to help out."
"George is an outstanding example of the exemplary
Marines and Sailors that make up the Blue Angels, and our Navy and Marine
Corps," said Blue Angels Commanding Officer and Flight Leader Tom Frosch.
"All of the Sailors and Marines involved with this rescue did exactly what
they are trained to do. I could not be more proud of each and every one of
them."
The Blue Angels are in Chicago this weekend for their
scheduled performance at the Chicago Air and Water Show August 15 and 16.
The mission of the Blue Angels is to showcase the pride and
professionalism of the United States Navy and Marine Corps by inspiring a
culture of excellence and service to country through flight demonstrations and
community outreach.
Since its inception in 1946, the Blue Angels have performed
for more than 484 million fans.
For more information, call the Blue Angels Public Affairs
Office at (850) 452-3955.
The mission of the Blue Angels is to showcase the pride and
professionalism of the United States Navy and Marine Corps by inspiring a
culture of excellence and service to country through flight demonstrations and
community outreach.
Since its inception in 1946, the Blue Angels have performed
for more than 484 million fans.
For more information, call the Blue Angels Public Affairs
Office at (850) 452-3955.
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