LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
While grabbing lunch at a local supermarket April 7, Senior Airman Adam Smith, 1st Civil Engineer Squadron emergency management journeyman, overheard yells for help asking if anyone knew how to perform CPR.
"I know CPR so I immediately went to where I'd heard the cry for help," said Airman Smith. "I didn't give it a second thought - it was instinctual."
When he arrived on the scene, there was a man lying on the floor between the aisles, unconscious and bleeding from the back of the head. A crowd of four or five people had gathered and someone was checking the victim for a pulse.
After confirming 911 had already been called, Airman Smith went into action. The victim had no pulse so Airman Smith checked the victim's breathing. After discovering the man wasn't breathing, Airman Smith tilted the victim's head back to inspect the airway for any possible obstructions.
Nothing was blocking his airway so Airman Smith started CPR. It was the first time he had performed the procedure, but he felt confident because he had received CPR instruction twice during his squadron's monthly training.
After he gave the victim two rescue breaths, he proceeded to give him thirty chest compressions. When there was no response, Airman Smith repeated the process until suddenly the victim regained consciousness.
"His skin had turned blue," Airman Smith said, "but then the color in his face started to return and although he was confused and incoherent, he was breathing again."
From that point, Airman Smith placed the victim in a recovery position and kept pressure on his head wound. Between five and ten minutes passed from the moment he took charge of the situation until the paramedics arrived.
"It's important that everyone in the Air Force receive training in CPR, regardless of their career field," he said. "It was good to know what to do in that situation."
After the incident, Airman Smith called his squadron to notify them of what had happened.
His supervisor, Staff Sgt. Timothy Clay, non-commissioned officer in charge of 1st CE emergency logistics, lauded Airman Smith's efforts.
"I wasn't surprised that it was Airman Smith who saved the man's life," said Sergeant Clay. "He's a hard worker and always does what has to be done. I'm glad he was there at the right minute and I'm very proud of him."
Airman Smith was acknowledged for his heroic deed with a surprise ceremony held by his squadron April 13. He was awarded a coin by Command Chief Master Sergeant Kevin Slater. According to Sergeant Clay, Airman Smith was humble when he received the coin. He's a very low-key kind of person, he added.
"I don't feel like a hero," said Airman Smith. "Our duty as Airman is to protect and defend whether we're off duty, at home, deployed or just on our lunch break."