Deployed C-130 aircrew prevents potential loss of life Published March 29, 2005 SOUTHWEST ASIA -- While flying a combat mission supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom on March 17, a C-130 crews skillful actions and ingenuity prevented a potential loss of life during an airlift of soldiers out of Iraq.After picking up more than 50 Soldiers in Iraq, the aircraft began leveling off at altitude. The two loadmasters, Staff Sgts. Tracy Hill and Joe Mooney, were passing around left-over sandwiches and bottles of water to the Soldiers cramped in the aircrafts cargo compartment. Suddenly, a Soldier slumped over. He was sweating profusely.Concerned for the Soldier, the loadmasters tried to wake him, but the Soldier failed to respond. While taking his vital signs, they realized he was hot to the touch. He had pinpointed pupils, a weak pulse, and was unresponsive to basic neural tests, and he was lapsing in and out of consciousness.He had all the symptoms of heat exhaustion, said Sergeant Moodey, who has recently cross trained to be a loadmaster after serving four years as a medic.Using their self-aid buddy care skills and life support training, the loadmasters cooled the Soldier with water and applied oxygen from the walk-around-bottle, the temporary oxygen supply system passengers use in emergencies. The Soldier wasnt getting any worse, but he wasnt getting any better either."He opened his eyes for two or three seconds and then lost consciousnesses again, so we knew the situation was getting worse, said Sergeant Hill.The sergeants decided they would move the Soldier to one of their crew spots to apply continuous oxygen from sergeant Moodeys flight helmet because it has an ample supply of oxygen, as opposed to the walk around bottle, which only provides enough oxygen for a few minutes.However, while moving the Soldier, he again lost consciousness. Thats when Sergeant Moodey contacted the aircraft commander, Maj. Mike Honma, and strongly suggested a divert. I told him we needed to land, and we needed to land now, said Sergeant Moodey.On the flight deck, Major Honma, co-pilot Capt. Stephen Holt, navigator 1st Lt. John Predis, and flight engineer Tech. Sgt. Kevin Henry, quickly planned and executed an emergency divert to an airfield in Iraq to seek medical attention for the Soldier.The loadmasters continued administering emergency medical procedures for heat stroke.Upon landing, Army medical personnel met the aircraft and confirmed the loadmasters heat stroke diagnosis. They took the Soldier to the base emergency room for further treatment.The aircrew immediately departed the airfield and finished their mission.This guy had everything in the world going for him, said Sergeant Hill. It was a daytime mission, so there was enough light to see (nighttime tactical airlift requires complete blackout of the aircraft); we had a light load, so we quickly climbed to altitude, which allowed us to break from our duties (allowing the loadmasters movement within the cargo compartment); and Sergeant Moodey had just cross trained from the aeromedical career field. (Staff Sgt. William Farrow, 386th AEW Public Affairs contributed to this article) Air Mobility Command News Service is a service of the Internal Division Office of Public Affairs 503 Ward Drive, Room 214 Scott Air Force Base, Illinois 62225-5335 618-229-7821