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Whiteman firefighter saves man's life

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Cody H. Ramirez
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Airmen constantly train to perfect their careers, but for one Air Force Global Strike Command Airman, he found his training helping him save a man's life.

It was just before midnight, Dec. 10 when Airman 1st Class Kenneth Taylor, 509th Civil Engineering Squadron fire protection member, was returning here from Warrensburg, Mo.

He was driving east on U.S. Highway 50, one-half mile past PCA road, when he saw a vehicle sitting in the median. The vehicle had travelled off the right side of the roadway and struck a concrete culvert.

"When I got closer, I saw the grass underneath the vehicle was on fire, so I stopped my truck and ran over to the vehicle," he said. "There was a chance someone was inside the vehicle, so I went to check."

"The driver hit his head on the steering wheel," Airman Taylor said. "His nose was bleeding and he showed signs of shock. When I told him his vehicle was on fire and that he needed to get out, he said 'oh ok,' like it wasn't a big deal.

"I knew I had to get him out of there," he said. "I unbuckled him and helped him exit the vehicle then led him to my truck."

By the time they had walked to Airman Taylor's truck, a 30-second trip, the vehicle's interior was engulfed in flames. A few minutes later, the vehicle's fuel tank exploded turning the vehicle into a large ball of fire.

Other Samaritans arrived on scene to assist Airman Taylor and the driver. A man checked the vehicle for additional passengers, while a woman called 9-1-1.

"The driver was slipping in and out of consciousness, so he must have hit his head pretty hard," Airman Taylor said.

Airman Taylor said the techniques he learned since joining the Air Force, such as first response training during his technical school, helped him assess the scene and take quick action throughout the accident.

"The fire training I went through taught me to act without hesitation," he said. "I talked to the man to keep him awake and tried to prevent him from losing consciousness."

Airman Taylor said his technical training also taught him how to provide some medical assistance, which he was able to implement on scene.

The victim was rushed to Western Missouri Medical Center where he recovered within 24-hours.

Karl Salier, a Johnson County paramedic said that without Airman Taylor's actions, the accident victim would have sustained severe injuries, and possibly death.

Staff Sgt. Bryan Daspit, 509th Civil Engineering Squadron crew chief and Airman Taylor's supervisor, said that he wasn't surprised when he heard about his subordinate.

"He (Airman Taylor) is a hard working and dedicated Airman who also happens to be a father of three, so he understands the value of life," Sergeant Daspit said. "It's in his character to go out of his way to help people."

"That's the way I was raised, to help people when they need it," Airman Taylor concluded. "It was just another day. I'm happy I was in the right place at the right time to help the man out."