Med tech makes a difference

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Amber Carter
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  His heart races. His palms are sweaty. Adrenaline is coursing through his veins. A human life is in his hands. A child. The patient barely takes up half of the gurney.

Other emergency medical technicians are asking for the vital signs as the child is whisked toward the helicopter waiting to transfer the patient to a neonatal intensive care unit. Every second counts. Every decision made is critical to the survival of the patient.

Saving lives is a daily occurrence for Airman 1st Class Curtis Pufford, 60th Medical Operations Squadron aerospace medical technician at Travis Air Force Base.

"We do the pre-hospital response so we take the ambulances out and we are the emergency medical technicians for the base," Pufford said. "We respond with fire and security forces and take over from there."

Aerospace medical technicians in the emergency department at David Grant USAF Medical Center also have other responsibilities within the hospital. 

"Specifically, here in the emergency room, we are directly involved in patient care, starting the IVs, taking vitals, doing minor procedures, sutures and staples," Pufford said.

A recent transfer of a child via Redwood Empire Air Care Helicopter flight, which provides emergency air transport services for 911 requests and patient transfers, to Children's Hospital in Oakland, California, caught the attention of Maj. Stephen Sila, 70th Air Refueling Squadron KC-10A instructor pilot and witness to the REACH flight.

"Here is a young man doing one of the most benevolent things in this world, helping another human being with direct and immediate consequence to health and life," Sila said. "He does it to the best of his ability, asks for nothing in return and does it with a smile. It was worthy of recognition and a phenomenal example of a military member working in harmony with the civilian sector."

The training provided by the Air Force has prepared Airmen like Pufford to react to emergency situations with professionalism and poise.

"It was quite obvious that A1C Pufford seemed well-suited and prepared for his job," Sila said. "His confidence and desire to help seemed obvious."

The Napa, California, native feels lucky to be at Travis and to work with his team at DGMC.
 
"We have emergencies all of the time and we know what to do," Pufford said. "It's a great, cohesive team and we get everything done as fast as possible. It's a lot of fun working with the team and doing what we are trained to do."
His face lights up when asked about his greatest achievement so far.

"I feel like some people would list an award or medal they received but a few months ago I performed a pre-hospital delivery, someone gave birth in the ambulance," Pufford said. "It was kind of surreal. I helped bring a life into the world." 

New to the Air Force and to Travis, arriving September 2013, his leadership already speaks highly of his work ethic and professionalism.

"For his rank and the time that he has been here, he is very knowledgable," said Staff Sgt. Hortencia Ramon, 60th MDOS aerospace medical technician. "I would trust him with my life and my family's life."