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Two Enterprise Sailors Perform CPR, Save Lives
Story Number: NNS041007-05
Release Date: 10/7/2004 3:14:00 PM
By Journalist 2nd Class Rebekah Caruso, USS Enterprise Public Affairs
NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Two USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Sailors used their Navy training to help a civilian in need in the early morning hours of Sept. 26, in downtown Norfolk, Va.
The Sailors had been enjoying an evening out, and were walking back to their car when a man toppled off of one of the roadside benches face first.
“He hit hard enough to break his glasses, and when we ran over we couldn’t wake him up,” said Electronics Technician 3rd Class (SW/AW) Mark Boucher, a radar technician for Combat Systems Department CS-6 division. “One of the bystanders immediately called 911, but about five minutes later the ambulance hadn’t yet made it and the injured man had stopped breathing.”
Boucher and Electronics Technician 3rd Class (SW/AW) Thomas Roby, a radar technician for CS-6, Combat Systems Department, rolled the man over and began mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, as they were taught in Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) class.
“At that point, we rolled him over and began Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation. I did the mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and Roby did the compressions until the ambulance arrived,” said Boucher. “It felt like we had to do it, we were there and nobody else was helping. It was second nature to do it,” said Roby.
Boucher and Roby’s actions were no surprise to their divisional leading chief petty officer, Senior Chief Electronics Technician (SW/AW) Beth Holz.
“They respond [with flexibility and leadership] to things that come up every day. They adapt and overcome, and make things happen,” said Holz. “I think that with the kind of people that they are, and having the tools from the Navy, they just kind of stepped in. They probably didn’t even think about it. They just saw what happened and performed.”
The Sailors felt prepared and capable of doing what was necessary, according to Boucher.
“Even though I was scared, because of my training I knew exactly what to do, and I didn’t even hesitate when I gave him mouth-to-mouth,” said Boucher.
Boucher, 22, and Roby, 23, are examples of the kind of Sailors the Navy needs, according to Holz.
“I hate to say that we especially want to keep these ones, because there are so many good junior Sailors out there, but it’s really nice to see some guys who can do so well in the Navy,” said Holz.
The best thing about the Sailors’ reaction was how instinctive it was, according to Holz. Boucher feels that their actions were simply reflective of the skills they had.
“All the training that we’ve had paid off," Boucher said. "If we hadn’t known CPR, we couldn’t have done anything. We would have just been another couple of people who walked right by.”
For related news, visit the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cvn65.
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