Airstream Magazine - Youngstown Air Reserve Station

Story and photo by Mr. Eric M. whiteIn the early morning, you’redriving through the city when you seetwo men pushing a stalled vehicle.You stop to see if they need help,and another vehicle strikes the twomen against their car, fracturing oneman’s leg and severing the other’sbelow the knee. The victim with thesevered leg is bleeding profusely andshowing signs of shock. What do youdo?The morning of Feb. 5, 2013, U.S.Air Force Reserve Senior AirmanSteve Cresanto, anair transportationjourneyman withYoungstown AirReserve Station’s76th Aerial PortSquadron, wasdriving throughYoungstown, Ohiowhen this scenariobecame reality,forcing him to makesuch decisions.JawkwanRudolph, one ofthe victims, had themost serious injuries.“His leg was amputated. Youwant to stop the hemorrhaging, so Iapplied a tourniquet,” said Cresanto.Without a medical tourniquet,Cresanto had to make one.“I didn’t have a tourniquet there,so I made one. I made the tourniquetout of the individual’s belt and awindshield wiper from the car thatstruck them,” said Cresanto.Cresanto then fashioned a splintfor the second victim’s fractured legusing an ice scraper and another belt.When first responders arrived atthe scene of the accident, they askedCresanto where he learned to dowhat he did, stating that his actionslikely saved Rudolph’s life. Cresantocredited the Self Aid Buddy Care“This is justanotheramazingexample ofthe Airmenthat we havehere and thetie that wehave to thecommunity,”(SABC) training he receives annuallyas an Air Force Reservist.“We do it every single year, do thetraining, and I never thought I wouldactually use it in the field. It turnsout I did, and I am glad I had thetraining,” said Cresanto.SABC training includes basic lifesupport and limb-saving techniquesto help injured persons survive untilmedical help arrives.Charles Sammarone, Youngstowncity mayor, presented Cresanto withan award on behalfof the city at a citycouncil meetingMarch 6.Detective/Sergeant PatriciaGarcar, one of thefirst respondersto the accident,recommendedCresanto for theaward and presentedat the councilmeeting her accountof what unfoldedthe morning of theaccident.“I was just so impressed withwhat he did. He did not have to stopand didn’t have to offer the assistancethat he did, and it just amazed me,”said Garcar.Cresanto is one of more than1600 Citizen Airmen stationed atYoungstown Air Reserve Station whohave answered the nation’s call tofulfill the Air Force’s core values ofintegrity first, service before self andexcellence in all we do.“This is just another amazingexample of the Airmen that wehave here and the tie that we haveto the community,” said Col. JamesD. Dignan, 910th Airlift Wingcommander. “There’s a sense offamily here at the 910th Airlift Wing.”Airstream Magazine, 1st Quarter, 2013Youngstown City Mayor Charles Sammarone (left) reads the citation accompanying an award presented to Air Force ReserveSenior Airman Steve Cresanto (right) March 6 at Youngstown City Hall, Ohio.910th 2012 Of the Year winnersThe 2012 “Of the Year” award winners:Airman of the YearSenior Airman Matthew WilcoxSecurity Forces SquadronNCO of the YearTech. Sgt. John LucasSecurity Forces SquadronSNCO of the YearMaster Sgt. Michael BullardSecurity Forces SquadronFirst Sergeant of the YearMaster Sgt. Robert FisherCommunications SquadronCompany Grade Officer of the YearCapt. Casey Stedman773rd Airlift Squadron11www.youngstown.afrc.af.milThe quarterly and yearly awards are open to allenlisted personnel and Company Grade Officers.The nominees are selected by their supervisorsand commanders to represent their units at awing level board.Col. Patrick Slattery, 910th Airlift Wing ViceCommander, said the Airman’s efforts show theirtrue commitment to the wing.“So much of what we do; we ask you to dothings with no promise of reward,” Slatterysaid. “We can say, ‘we need this done’ and you’rehere because you did it. That is really a trulyremarkable thing.”“Remember, we are only as good as we areas a team,” said Slattery. “So when we take timeto recognize people who are doing outstandingwork, it makes this all better.”Congratulations on a job well done to thedeserving Airmen recieving Of the Year awardsfor 2012.