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Practice makes perfect: Tinker employees work on better self-aid buddy care

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  • By Danielle Gregory
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE --  The American Heart Association reports that more than 165,000 adults die from sudden cardiac arrest each year.
    According to Capt. Charles G. Kels, Assistant Staff Judge Advocate, the Oklahoma's Good Samaritan Act protects individuals who, in good faith, render or attempt to render emergency care and treatment to any victim of an accident or emergency situation. In such circumstances, individuals are shielded from liability for ordinary negligence, and can only be subject to civil damages for gross negligence or willful acts. For those who are not licensed health care practitioners, emergency care assistance is limited to artificial respiration, restoration of breathing, prevention or retarding blood loss, or aiding or restoring heart action or circulation of blood to the victim.
   That's why when Tinker employees in the Software Maintenance Group decided to take a stand and educate themselves and receive certification under the American Red Cross - Central Oklahoma Chapter to be first aid responders, heads have turned and lives are being saved.
   "In March of 2007 we were directed to establish to a First Responders Program to provide immediate care during work place emergencies until EMS can respond. The program escalated from a small idea to a program that meets the requirements of the VPP & Wingman program. Our program has gone a step further since we are able to offer in house training to our employees. We are also the first organization at Tinker AFB to have a program of this magnitude," said Norman Wagner, Management Support Branch.
   The team began this excursion by identifying the kind of training they would need and got with the American Red Cross and the American Red Cross started mentoring the team and designed a two week class that covered basic adult CPR up to professional rescuer.
   "Starting out there were 16 that were trained and there are 14 now. We designed cubicle signs so that people know that there is someone that is certified to help," said Mr. Wagner. "Our response time is down on our automated external defibrillator response exercises, because people didn't know what to do and would walk the other way, now people are quicker to respond and help." They do plan on certifying at least six more people in the near future.
   The American Heart Association reports that after sudden cardiac arrest, every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces survival by 7-10 percent. Automated external defibrillators -- also known as AEDs -- administer electrical shocks that can restore a heart to its normal rhythm. When used in conjunction with CPR, these machines are said to make the difference between life and death.
   "It's really nice to know that anywhere we go, someone knows how to use the AED and someone knows CPR. We are an aging workforce in my area," said George Gattenby also with the Software Maintenance Group. "We are dispensed throughout the whole group, so we are right there with our co-workers." "We don't just have people trained to do the stuff but we have our employees trained to get the right people to them," said Software Maintenance Director Dan Goddard.
   The team was able to make use of dead space in Bldg. 18 and that has given them as a training facility to better educate those that wanted to be better Wingmen.
   One of the software members that took training commented that, "Too often you see people in situations where it looks like something needs to be done, and could be done, but no one is able or willing to respond. I wanted to be able to overcome both obstacles. I have already been in a situation where someone was in an accident on the way home and the training prompted me to stop and help. You never know when something tragic like that could happen...to any of us," said James Wood, Electronics Engineer Defense Management System Software Support Flight 559th Software Maintenance Squadron.
   "Knowledge is empowerment, a lot of people when they come on an accident their first reaction is to runaway. As we trained them, there may be 10-12 people that may jump out and help," said Mr. Wagner.
   Mr. Goddard also mention that by having people close it cuts down on those critical  moments that may take EMS or Fire several moments to respond to depending on location and other hurdles they may come in contact with. "In an emergency people tend to freeze; delegating is an important part in an emergency. Seconds count, those little skill sets to tell people what do helps," said Mr. Goddard.
   "A majority of people would be more likely to step up and help if they had the training and knowledge," said Mr. Gattenby.
   The team said that they have worked on approximately 20 situations that required their assistance since becoming certified. Off base they said they have helped with several car accidents, first aid and cardiac situations.
   "I chose to be certified because I simply want to be prepared. If I'm called to an emergency I want to be able to look the family in the eye and tell them I did everything that could be done. Being certified has taught me that apathy is our worst enemy. If I don't step up and take action, chances are no one else will either. But if someone starts giving direction, people will step up to help," said Annita Leehan, who also recently became certified under the program.
   "We would love to help anyone throughout the base that would like to get something like this started," said Mr. Wagner.