Selfridge Airman hailed as hero
By 1st Lt. Cammy Alberts, 127th Wing Public Affairs
/ Published January 26, 2019
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Flor. -- Senior Airman Tamara Davie used the first aid buddy care skills she learned as a member of the Michigan Air National Guard to respond quickly to calls for help while working at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Jan. 22. A woman had fallen, hitting her head. She was bleeding and vomiting. The woman, the mother of another Airman, recovered thanks to Davie's quick response.
Davie, a Command Support Staff journeyman with the 127th Maintenance Group at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., was making her way to her room at the MacDill Inn on the base after closing out another day on her two-week training mission during Exercise Emerald Warrior with the 127th and its A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. Then she heard the frantic cries for help from another guest at the on-base hotel. The Airman immediately jumped into action.
As Davie approached, a guest stated that her mother had fallen and needed help right away. Davie quickly identified an elderly woman in the guest suite who was bleeding from the head. Davie jumped into action and began rendering first-aid.
"I fell back on my Self Aid Buddy Care training that I received in the Michigan Air Guard," Davie said. "I just reacted. I rolled her on her side to prevent her from choking and I applied dressings to the wound.
"My instincts kicked in. I had to find out what the problem was and help, said Davie, who works as a pre-school teacher in addition to serving in the Michigan ANG.
Two other Michigan Citizen-Airmen, Tech. Sgt. Justin Nabarrette of the 127th Mission Support Group Vehicle Operations shop and Master Sgt. Gregory Atkins from the 127th Maintenance Group, arrived on the scene shortly after Davie and assisted in rendering care until paramedics arrived.
"This is what we do. These airmen assessed the risk of going into a situation unprotected from bodily fluids, and they saved her life. They put the woman's care above their concern for their own health and welfare," said Senior Master Sgt. Robin Cleaver, first sergeant for the 127th Wing personnel at Exercise Emerald Warrior.
Chief Master Sgt. Charles Snyder, maintenance flight chief with the 127th Maintenance Group, Maintenance Flight Chief, singled out Davie for her actions, along with that of Nabarette and Atkins.
"We couldn't be more proud of our Team Selfridge Guardsmen. They really stepped up and utilized their training," said Snyder. "You never know when you'll be placed in a situation where you can be a hero."