FORT CARSON, Colo. - Sometimes it seems that Good Samaritans can be hard to find in today's society.
Spc. Timothy George, a medic assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, proved to be one such person.
Leaving a restaurant in Aurora, Colo., after having dinner with his Family, Sept. 4, George witnessed a moving vehicle strike a young boy on a bike.
The Soldier responded immediately, running across the street to the site of the accident, and took control of the situation providing emergency medical care.
"If the patient had any cervical injuries, George would have saved him from possible paralysis or death," said Danny Toomey, a paramedic with the Aurora Fire Department, who responded to the accident. "He handled the scene very well. He did a great job controlling the traffic around the patient."
When the motor vehicle collided with the boy, the child's body was thrown against the windshield and fell to the ground.
George reassured the boy, who had a broken arm, to prevent further injury. After immobilizing the spine, he checked the boy's pulse and respiration.
"I was down on my hands and knees, and I was able to put his head between my knees," said George.
This action prevented any additional damage to the boy's cervical spine.
Aurora Police officers arrived at the scene within minutes, and an ambulance with the city Fire Department arrived shortly afterward.
The Soldier briefed the paramedics on the details of the accident, providing his assessment of the boy's injuries to the emergency medical personnel.
George said he learned just how important response time is to an accident victim or casualty during his 12-month mission to provide emergency medical care for Soldiers in Iraq.
"It is training that tells you to take over," said the combat veteran, who returned to Fort Carson with his unit in August.
The medic, who hails from Aurora, said calming spectators gathered around the accident site was the biggest challenge he faced.
George said his training as a medic and experience dealing with stressful situations helped him keep everyone involved at the scene "cool under pressure."
"It means a great deal to the public that someone is out there, well trained and keeping people safe," Toomey said.
Aurora Fire Chief Mike Garcia sent a letter to George's battery commander as a token of appreciation explaining the significance of the Soldier's actions on that day. Prior to the commendation, the Soldier's chain of command had no knowledge of the event.
George is a very loyal and respectful Soldier, said Master Sgt. Earl Woods, operations sergeant major, HHB, 3rd Bn., 16th FA Reg., 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
"I am not surprised," said Woods, the medic's first sergeant during his deployment to Iraq. "I know him. It was automatic for him."
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