By MCC Kim Martinez, NMCB 1 Public Affairs
Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1 (from left to right) BU2 Rickey Sims, BU3 Eric Millisor, BU1 Patrick Smith and BU2 Carl Watson served as first responders to a vehicle accident involving three Sailors from Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS North Carolina (SSN 777), March 18. Photo by BU3 Jennifer Cruz
Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1 in Guam served as first responders to a vehicle accident involving three Sailors from Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS
North Carolina (SSN 777), March 18.
The Seabees, driving back from a jobsite, witnessed the accident and rendered first aid to one of the injured Sailors.
During a stop which seemed like a routine red light, I noticed smoke, a car flipped over, and another white car that was smashed up and emitting fumes into the air approximately four cars ahead of our truck, said BU3 Eric Millisor, NMCB 1. Without thinking, I just hopped out and told the guys in the car that we should go see if these guys needed help. I ran to the scene and noticed two passengers crawling out of the flipped-over vehicle.
Millisor said that one of the victims was responsive, but couldn't get out. So he helped him out of the vehicle and moved him to the sidewalk away from the four-lane road.
I checked for airway breathing and circulation on the third passenger and he was responsive in all areas, he said. I began scanning for cuts up and down the body. I also assessed for glass and life-threatening injuries.
At the same time Millisor began providing first aid to the victims, BU1 Patrick Smith, BU2 Carl Watson and BU2 Rickey Sims, NMCB 1, arrived on scene.
According to Sims, when they arrived on site, there we about 20 people already there, most unsure of how to aid the injured submariners. However, the NMCB 1 personnel, who had received combat lifesaver training, quickly went into action until an ambulance arrived on the scene.
Bystanders had removed one victim from the car and placed him in the street, said Watson. Petty Officer Millisor quickly assessed the situation and moved the victim to the sidewalk out of dangerous traffic.
While Millisor performed first aid on the injured victim, Watson wrote down pertinent information about the patient, such as his name, his ship and the time of the accident. Sims worked the accident scene.
I helped direct the flow of traffic because the ambulance and fire department were trying to get through the traffic jam surrounding the accident scene, said Sims. We treated the victim for shock by talking to him and by also making sure the other Sailors were ok.
The Seabees stayed with the accident victims until the EMTs, police and fire department came, and drove two of the three victims to the U.S. Naval Hospital Guam. They also assisted in contacting the Sailors chain of command.
The Seabees own chain of command applauded the group s efforts in aiding the injured Sailors, attributing their ability to effectively help the injured motorists to the combat lifesaving skills every Bee receives throughout his/her career.
We are constantly required to complete training for first aid, but never know when we will be called to use it, said BUC Mary Montigny, NMCB 1 Detail Guam platoon leading chief petty officer. Today these four Sailors were able to recall their training and assist brothers in arms with their selfless acts of heroism. Bravo Zulu!
NMCB 1 provides combat-ready engineer forces in response to Combatant Commander and Naval Component Commander requirements, and provides planning and operational support for Seabee employment. The continued operations in the Pacific Command help demonstrate the U.S. commitment to developing enduring relationships, and strengthening local institutions and communities throughout the region. At U.S. locations, Seabees perform missions to prepare for disaster support and civic assistance missions. NMCB 1 is homeported out of Gulfport, Miss., and has 13 global details deployed throughout the United States and Pacific area of operations in Japan, Korea, Diego Garcia, Cambodia, Philippines, Timor Leste and Guam.