Sailor
Helps in Saving Life
By
R.J. Stratchko
AFPS
|
Capt.
Paul Biving Nziengui (left), chief of Gabonese Naval
Forces, thanks U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ronald
Saucedo
(right) for saving the life of a Gabonese civilian on Sogara
Beach, Gabon. U.S. Navy Capt. John Nowell (center), commander
of Africa Partnership Station, also was on hand to recognize
Saucedo at the ceremony.
Photo
by R.J. Stratchko / DoD Photo |
PORT GENTILE,
Gabon — A sailor stationed on board the amphibious dock
landing ship USS Fort McHenry was recognized Jan. 17 for helping
save the life of a local Gabonese woman.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Ronald Saucedo, a storekeeper, received
the award from Gabonese Chief of Naval Forces Capt. Paul Biving
Nziengu and U.S. Navy Capt.
John Nowell, commander of Africa Partnership Station.
Saucedo was
on liberty at Sogara Beach on Jan. 14 with three other Africa
Partnership Station sailors when they witnessed four men carrying
someone from the water.
"As
we walked up to the crowd of people on the beach, they saw
my dog tags and said, ‘U.S. Marines, U.S. Marines,’" he
said. Saucedo immediately administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
"I checked
her pulse and airway,” he said. “Then I tilted
her head back, and somebody volunteered to do mouth-to-mouth
while I did chest compressions. Shortly after, the water gushed
out of her nose, and she came to. As soon as she started regaining
consciousness, we made sure she was OK, and then tried to get
additional medical help."
Saucedo described
the whole experience as scary but credited his reaction to
the training he received in the U.S. Navy.
"I was
afraid when I began chest compressions, but my training just
kicked in," he said.
The basic
life-saving training that Saucedo received is the same training
that Africa Partnership Station is teaching maritime professionals
from West and Central African countries.
Saucedo said
he believes anyone who happens upon such a situation needs
to do something about it. "Always try to do your best,
even if you are not the one giving CPR,” he said. “Do
something to help; don’t just walk by."
"Petty
Officer Saucedo’s actions exemplify what APS is all about,
building trust with the African people so that we can strengthen
collaborative partnerships," Nowell said.