{"id":29149,"date":"2023-09-26T21:47:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-26T21:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=29149"},"modified":"2023-09-28T06:42:11","modified_gmt":"2023-09-28T06:42:11","slug":"military-medical-training-proves-lifesaving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=29149","title":{"rendered":"Military Medical Training Proves Lifesaving"},"content":{"rendered":"
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — <\/span><\/p>\n

It was an ordinary Friday evening, Sept. 15th, as Cpl. Nicholas Christensen was driving back to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California chatting with his buddy Lance Cpl. Ethan Feaster when suddenly a car turned left into traffic causing a horrific collision. Two of the motorcycle riders directly in front of Christensen\u2019s truck swerved to miss the car, a third motorcycle rider attempted to avoid a collision, but it was unavoidable.<\/p>\n

\u201cI blocked the road with my truck and ran to him [motorcycle rider],\u201d said Christensen, field instructor with Weapons Field and Training Battalion. \u201cI saw the rider was severely injured and ran to get my medical bag.\u201d<\/p>\n

Christensen, primarily a machine gunner also has extensive military medical training. From basic Combat Lifesaving Course and Tactical Combat Casualty Care to the more advanced course called Valkryie, which teaches phlebotomy and transfusions. Due to his medical training, he had maintained a medical supply bag in his truck for the past two years, but never had an occasion to use it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank God he had his medical bag,\u201d said Lance Cpl. Ethan Feaster, a Marine rifleman by trade and native of Redmond, Wash. \u201cHe [Christensen] really saved the day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Christensen, a native of St. Charles, Ill., immediately began triaging the motorcycle rider. One of the other motorcycle riders, Lance Cpl. Ramyar Mohammedali, a land surveyor with 7th Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, ran over to assist. Christensen noticed the motorcycle rider had an Eagle, Globe and Anchor on his jacket and assumed the rider was either an active duty Marine or Marine veteran.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe realized he was not breathing, so I took off his helmet to help open an airway and blood poured out,\u201d said Christensen. \u201cWe learned the motorcycle rider\u2019s name was Mike.\u201d<\/p>\n

While holding Mike\u2019s head, Christensen turned him into a recovery position on the asphalt with the gash in his head facing upward to help stop the bleeding. It was at this time that Mike started breathing. Blood poured out of Mike\u2019s mouth with every breath. Feaster held Mike\u2019s head as Christensen wrapped it with bandages. Christensen then moved to wrap and splint both of Mike\u2019s arms, which were both mangled and shattered badly.<\/p>\n

“It is pretty intense and remarkable what Christensen and Feaster did. Fortunately for that Marine, these two were there. If they wouldn\u2019t have been there, a very different outcome likely would have happened.” 1st Sgt. James Grunbacher, company first sergeant from Weapons Field and Training Battalion<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Within about five minutes, local police arrived on the scene.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe thought the police department officers would take over, but they didn\u2019t have medical supplies,\u201d said Feaster.<\/p>\n

The police officers observed the situation and decided to let Christensen continue to take the lead on the care he was providing to Mike. Feaster continued to hold Mike\u2019s head as the Marines did not have a neck brace.<\/p>\n

I talked to Mike; I told him he is a fighter, and you are a Marine,\u201d said Christensen. \u201cIf I stopped talking to him, his breathing would slow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Christensen said he didn\u2019t feel any emotions in the moment, because the medical training he received in the Marines just kicked in. Christensen continued to stabilize and talk to Mike.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is pretty intense and remarkable what Christensen and Feaster did,\u201d said 1st Sgt. James Grunbacher, company first sergeant from Weapons Field and Training Battalion and a native of Pinole, California.\u00a0\u201cFortunately for that Marine, these two were there. If they wouldn\u2019t have been there, a very different outcome likely would have happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

About ten minutes after the collision, emergency medical systems arrived on the scene. As soon as they saw the situation, EMS personnel immediately called for a helicopter. Christensen briefed EMS personnel on the medical care he had provided, and EMS immediately lifted Mike onto a stretcher and didn\u2019t have any additional medical care to provide since Christensen had provided everything they would have done.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know when someone is airlifted it is never a good sign and there was a chance, he may not make it,\u201d said Christensen.<\/p>\n

Christensen\u2019s actions demonstrate how all courses and training in the Marine Corps can be applied to everyday scenarios.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it wasn\u2019t for that medical kit and Cpl. Christensen\u2019s expertise, we wouldn\u2019t know if he [Mike] was going to survive or not,\u201d said Mohammedali, who has visited Mike every day at the hospital and has kept Christensen updated daily. \u201cIt looked ugly.\u201d<\/p>\n

By the time Mike was taken to the hospital, Christensen and Feaster were covered in blood from their hands to their shoulders.<\/p>\n

Christensen’s Marine Corps service is coming to an end this year. However, he envisions a future marked by continued service, with plans to attend the fire academy early next year and then pursue EMS training near Houston, Texas<\/p>\n

\u201cCpl. Christensen is a true hero. He not only provided lifesaving aid but took charge of the situation and did so regardless of his own safety,\u201d said Mohammedali. \u201cCpl. Christensen actions saved the life of a Marine that evening.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the crucible of chaos, his training wasn\u2019t just a skill, it was a lifeline, a beacon of hope in the bleakest of moments.<\/p>\n

Throughout Christensen’s actions, he exemplified our Corps’ values. His unwavering dedication exemplifies the caliber of individuals who proudly wear the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor. As Christensen moves forward with his life goals, his actions exemplify limitless potential for those who answer the call to serve and may inspire future Marine recruits.<\/p>\n

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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — It was an ordinary Friday evening, Sept. 15th, as Cpl. Nicholas Christensen was driving back to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California chatting with his buddy Lance Cpl. Ethan Feaster when suddenly a car turned left into traffic causing a horrific collision. Two of the motorcycle riders directly […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":29151,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29149","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29149","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=29149"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29149\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29152,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29149\/revisions\/29152"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/29151"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=29149"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=29149"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=29149"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}