April 7, 2009

U.S. Navy Seabee Saves Life of Masbate Toddler
Story by U.S. Navy Chief Mass Communications Specialist Shane Montgomery

CAMP GEN. SIMEON A. OLA, Legazpi City, Republic of the Philippines – A U.S. Navy Seabee participating in Balikatan 2009, a bilateral humanitarian assistance and training activity with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, provided life-saving medical care to a Masbate Province toddler, who had stopped breathing after falling into a pool on April 6 at about 6 P.M.

Hospital Corpsman Third Class Christopher Thomas with the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Forty (NMCB 40) was returning to a local hotel after spending the day working side by side with members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and fellow U.S. Navy Seabees, who are currently constructing a water well in the Sawang Barangay of Masbate, when Seabees already at the hotel raced up to his van and told him a child was in trouble and needed his help.

Thomas, a trained medical professional, hurried to the pool where he found a toddler lying motionless on a table with no pulse.

“When I got to the table, the little girl, maybe just over a year old, wasn’t breathing,” said Thomas. “I immediately started doing back thrusts to try to clear her lungs. After two attempts, her lungs cleared and she started breathing again.”

After listening to the toddler’s breathing, Thomas advised the family to take her to the local hospital in case there was need for further care. He said he’s looking forward to following up and checking to see how the little girl is doing.

Balikatan 2009 is a bilateral humanitarian assistance and training activity that promotes unity and readiness between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States.   In the Bicol region, Philippine and U.S. military forces are constructing two wells and repairing two schools and two roads as part of Balikatan 2009.  They will also conduct free medical, dental, and veterinary clinics in the Bicol region.  Such “shoulder to shoulder” efforts help ensure humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts are efficient and effective.

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