Airman puts SABC skills to use

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Rachel Martinez
  • 35th Fighter Wing public affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  A staff sergeant from the 35th Operations Support Squadron recently had to rely on his self aid and buddy care skills. He wasn't in a combat zone though; he was right here in Misawa.

On his way to the Shimoda Mall one evening last month, Staff Sgt. Mark Moore witnessed a vehicle flip over into a ditch alongside the road.

"I didn't think about it," he said. "I just pulled over and jumped out of the car."

Upon reaching the overturned car, Sergeant Moore found the Japanese woman driver hanging upside down in her vehicle, her legs still under the steering column.

"She was still in shock and didn't answer," Sergeant Moore explained. "So, I lightly squeezed her leg and asked her in Japanese if it was painful and she said no."

Fortunately, Sergeant Moore spoke enough Japanese so that he could ask the woman any important questions. His wife, who is Japanese, was with him in the car when they witnessed the accident.

"I then told her I was going to unbuckle her seatbelt and catch her," he said. "I caught her and helped her out of the car. I then put her arm over my shoulder and helped her across the street and had her sit in my car."

Sergeant Moore said he had to use his self aid and buddy care skills to make sure that the driver was okay to be moved and to prevent her from possibly going into shock.

Sergeant Moore's wife had already called the police and an ambulance.

"The police were very surprised that we stopped and helped even though we weren't involved in the accident," he said.

The driver of the flipped vehicle was surprised and appreciative of Sergeant Moore and his wife's help as well.

"She kept thanking my wife and me," he said.

It was snowing and windy out, with icy roads when the accident occurred. The woman was not injured however, because she used her seatbelt.

Sergeant Moore said anyone would have done the same thing in his situation - help someone in need.