Force Support Airmen help victim at accident site Published July 2, 2013 By Senior Airman Frank Casciotta 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Two Vance Airmen, while driving to a recent office dinner, came to the aid of an accident victim with techniques learned during Self Aid Buddy Care training. The SUV in front of them swerved and struck a guard rail. A tire burst and the SUV lost control, tumbled off the road and ended up on its side, teetering on the edge of a hill. The two Airmen, 2nd Lt. Jacob Pfannenstiel, chief of customer support for the 71st Force Support Squadron, and his NCO in charge, Staff Sgt. Juan Rodriguez, got out of their vehicle and approached the accident scene. One of them called out to an onlooker to call 911. As they were joined by other concerned motorists, they noticed the vehicle was threatening to roll down the hill. "A few of us ran over to brace the vehicle to stop it from tipping over and rolling down the hill," said Pfannenstiel. While Pfannenstiel and the others held up the vehicle, Rodriguez and a passing police officer began freeing the driver by breaking through the windshield. "I just dug my fingers into a hole in the windshield and started pulling," said Rodriguez. When the driver was free, Rodriguez used techniques he learned in Self Aid Buddy Care training to see if he was alright while Pfannenstiel checked other vitals. "He appeared to be stable but wasn't responding," said Rodriguez. "We couldn't tell if he was incoherent or just didn't understand. But when I spoke to him in Spanish he responded." A half hour later the ambulance arrived. While Rodriguez was assisting the medics with the driver, Pfannenstiel noticed a group of people trying to get the wrecked vehicle on its wheels again, however, they were in danger of sending it down the hill. "I was afraid the vehicle would roll down the hill and damage cars and their passengers," said Pfannenstiel. "Thankfully, I talked them out of it."