Guardsman’s training pays off in airport emergency

Dick Benoit

Thursday, March 14, 2002 | 10:04 a.m.

Spec. Michael Wilson of the Nevada Army National Guard put his military training to use recently to save a child from possible brain damage.

While on duty at McCarran International Airport last week, Wilson was approached by a representative of JPL airlines.

"She thought an infant may be choking," Wilson said. "When I arrived at Gate 3 I realized the infant was not choking but was passing in and out of consciousness."

Wilson performed standard medical checks he learned in training, checking the baby's pulse, respiration and rhythm, then he noticed the child showed signs of a seizure.

"I immediately performed a cold serum rub hoping to prevent a stroke," said Wilson, an emergency medical technician for New York-New York, who was trained at the Army's Fort Sam Houston in Texas for the National Guard.

The child was taken to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, and Wilson returned to his airport duty.

Later, when he called the hospital to ask about the girl, the nurse in charge told him that his actions prevented the infant from becoming unconscious, thus preventing permanent brain damage.

"I was happy that my military training as an EMT had helped the child," Wilson said.

His commander, Maj. Enrique De La Paz, noted the emergency room nurses, the paramedics and the parents were very impressed with the soldier's actions.

"This was Spec. Wilson's regular day off," De La Paz said. "He came in to help out because we were short. He is an outstanding soldier."

Wilson, who lives in Las Vegas, was activated for Task Force Vegas airport duty in support of Operation Noble Eagle in October. He's been a member of the Nevada National Guard since 1997.

In brief

The course is designed to develop confident and capable small-unit leaders assigned to units whose primary mission is to engage in close-combat, direct fire battle situations. Additional emphasis is placed on developing combat functional skills for planning and conducting ground, airmobile, airborne and waterborne patrolling and survival operations.

During the six weeks of training, the new airmen studied the Air Force mission, organization and customs; performed drill and ceremony and received physical training. They also received special training in human relations and earned credits toward an associate's degree through the Community College of the Air Force.