Medical Group husband, wife step up to help seizure victim

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Gustavo Gonzalez
  • 15th Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR HICKAM, Hawaii --  There are many things in life that people can identify as being a matter of life and death. For one unsuspecting Base Exchange customer, the need for two medical technicians from the pediatric clinic to remove some sticky substances became just that.

On July 27, Staff Sgt. Robert Woolley and his wife, Airman 1st Class Erin Woolley, 15th Medical Operations Squadron, went shopping at the Base Exchange for a bottle of chemical compounds designed to remove sticky substances. On their way into the BXtra, the sound of the two children crying caught Airman Woolley's attention.

"She saw that there was some lady having a seizure (on a bench) and said 'babe, we have to take care of this,'" said Sergeant Woolley. "So we ran over and I helped the lady down to the grass with another man."

"I was terrified at first trying to think back to school," Airman Woolley said. "I was trying to think what we would do first."

Sergeant Woolley instructed a bystander to help him move the victim to the grass behind the bench so that they may get her into the shade and so she didn't injure herself or others by continuing to seize on the bench while another bystander contacted 911. The victim continued to seize as they stayed close but did not try to interrupt her seizure. When the seizures stopped after more than one minute, they got her to the ground. Airman Woolley tilted the victim's head and chin back to ensure her airway was open and checked her pulse and respirations.

"We did what EMT basics are supposed to do until the paramedics arrive," Sergeant Woolley said. "Training did kick in, it was the fight or flight situation."

When the victim started to gain consciousness they told her to relax until the paramedics arrived. The victim just stared and didn't quite understand or replied. When the paramedics arrived they gave the medics the victims pulse respirations. Eventually, the paramedics got the victim to speak after a few minutes of her looking around. The victim had no recollection of what happened, where she was, what her name was, or what her son's names were. Just as fast as it had begun, it was over.

"We were told it was going to happen and we were going to freak out when it happened the first time dealing with a situation like that," said Airman Woolley. "We were as prepared as we can be."

"We were just doing our own job, what any bystander would try to do and do what we could to help someone in need," said Sergeant Woolley.