TRIPLER ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, Hawaii - We have all been there. Just out of school, when our minds are brimming with new knowledge and our spirit refreshed with a new sense of purpose. Such was the case when Tripler Army Medical Center's (TAMC's) own Pfc. Lewis Garcia heard that call.
It was a sweltering summer day in the crowded streets of the New York City Bronx borough. A recent graduate of the 68W, medical specialist program, Garcia was at home, on leave, spending some quality time with friends and family before beginning the travel to his first duty station, at TAMC.
Proud of his accomplishment at graduating his first two Army schools, and rightfully so, he decided against wearing run-of-the-mill civilian attire, and opted instead to don the Army Combat Uniform (ACU) he had worn for the last 20 weeks in school. After all, he left this place just another teenager, but now he was a Soldier-Medic and ACUs were the self-imposed uniform of the day. Unbeknownst to him, this day was going to need a Soldier-Medic.
A passenger in a small car, lost in New York City, on an unfamiliar street, Garcia wasn't looking for another problem to add to his ongoing list, but one found him. A man in an obvious panic, was running down the street while holding an infant in his arms screaming, "Somebody help my baby! Is anyone medical?" asked the distraught man aloud. Garcia heard the call and thought to himself, "I don't want to get involved…but I have to." Garcia exited the vehicle and said the words that have brought hope to those in medical emergencies since before the Civil War, "I'm a medic, I can help."
Garcia took the infant in his arms and wasn't sure what to do at first. The advanced individual training for an Army Medic isn't geared toward infant lifesaving measures. Garcia would've felt much more at ease with an adult suffering a sucking chest wound or amputated limb, but a sick baby was the hand he was dealt this day and he would have to search the catacombs of his mind for the life-saving measures to help the infant survive.
Garcia moved the infant to the back seat of his car and began recalling his medical training. Basic life support was in order; circulation, airway, breathing. "The baby was alert and breathing but he was working hard to breathe. He felt really hot too," added Garcia as he recalled activating the EMS system. A city dispatcher gave him instructions on what to do until the paramedics arrived.
Garcia took measures to cool the baby down resulting in less labored breathing. The paramedics arrived and took the infant's temperature; 104 degrees. They believed the baby had suffered a febrile seizure, a condition that can occur in children with fever (greater than 100.4 degrees) typically between 6 months and 5 years of age. The baby and mother were taken to the hospital and the rest of the family was driven there by Garcia and his group of friends.
Garcia learned something about himself that day. "This situation showed me that I wasn't going to be one of those who bail out. You know, I didn't panic, I was able to stay calm in a stressful situation," Garcia said proudly.
Garcia's story reached the TAMC Commander, Col. David K. Dunning who recognized Garcia's display of courage and leadership with a Commander's coin. Perhaps even better than that, Garcia earned the gratitude of the infant's family that will be forever grateful Garcia got out of the car to help. The baby recovered without any complications and Garcia continues to grow in medical knowledge and confidence and hopes his calm demeanor will serve him well in the field of battle if he is ever asked to answer that call.
Social Sharing