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First seargeants save Airman's life

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ashley Coomes
  • 319th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
"His face was dark red and he was pounding on his back. I asked if he was okay, but he didn't respond," said a Grand Forks Air Force Base first sergeant.

Master Sgt. Timothy Brittain, 319th Maintenance Squadron, and Master Sgt. Thomas Doyea, 319th Mission Support first sergeant, saved the life of an Airman during Tuesday's Airmen's Appreciation Dinner at the dining facility.

"I was serving cake to some of the Airmen when I noticed him. After I asked him if he was okay, he took a sip of his milk, so I thought he was, until I noticed his face was turning colors," said Sergeant Brittain.

It was then that Sergeant Brittain began giving the Airman abdominal thrusts to try to force the food out of the young man's throat.

"He was taller than I am, so I asked another first shirt to try; thinking he may have better leverage," he said.

That's when, Sergeant Doyea took over.

Sergeant Brittain could tell that they needed to get better leverage, so he told the Airman to sit down in his chair. Then Sergeant Brittain gave the Airmen two more thrusts and the food was dislodged.

"I didn't think of anything else, I just wasn't going to stop until he could breathe," said Sergeant Doyea.

"I've taken Self Aid Buddy Care and first responder courses as a security forces member. It gets ingrained in your head on how to react," said Sergeant Doyea.