Summer 2010 - STATES - The National Guard

Guardsman Aids Critically Injured Motorist
By Army Sgt. James C. Lally
Massachusetts National Guard Public Affairs
MILFORD, Mass. – A Massachusetts National
Guardsman helped a motorist suffering from lifethreatening
injuries on Route 44 in Carver, Mass.,
Feb. 5, 2010.
Army Sgt. Kevin G. Maloney, Company D,
1st Battalion, 182nd Infantry Regiment,
Massachusetts Army National Guard, used his
Army Combat Lifesaver training to apply a
tourniquet to a man’s nearly severed leg.
Maloney was on his way home from work late
that evening when he noticed some vehicles
stopped on the side of the road and saw that a
man was lying face down. Maloney pulled over,
grabbed the first-aid bag he keeps in his car
and ran to the scene. Maloney assessed the
man’s injuries and began first aid. Maloney said,
“Other people were trying to comfort him, but I
could see that he was bleeding a lot and started
going in and out of consciousness.”
Realizing the man’s leg was partially amputated,
Maloney, an infantryman, remembered his training
and quickly applied a tourniquet to prevent
him from bleeding to death. “When I saw his leg
and realized what was happening, I knew I would
need to use a tourniquet to stop the bleeding,”
Maloney said.
A state trooper, who was not on duty, stopped to
help and told Maloney he had called an ambulance.
While waiting for help to arrive, Maloney
and the trooper gathered as much information
as they could to make it easier for first
responders to care for the man.
When the ambulance arrived, Maloney told the
emergency medical technicians how severe the
man’s injuries were and helped them to quickly
Army Sgt. Kevin G. Maloney, Company D, 1st Battalion,
182nd Infantry Regiment, examines a sick child while
in Kosovo. Maloney deployed to Kosovo, Egypt
and twice for Homeland Security missions in
Massachusetts. Maloney credits his Army Combat
Lifesaver training with helping him to aid an injured
motorist on Route 44 in Carver, Mass., Feb. 5, 2010
(Courtesy photo).
28 Minuteman Summer 2010
Army Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Sellars, Commander, Massachusetts Army National Guard, presents Sgt. Kevin G.
Maloney, Company D, 1st Battalion, 182nd Infantry Regiment, with the Massachusetts Lottery “Heroes Among
Us” award at a Boston Celtics basketball game in the TD Garden, Boston, Mass., Feb. 23, 2010.
stabilize him for transport. The man’s injuries
were so severe that EMTs drove him to a field
down the road so he could be picked up by a
helicopter and taken to a Boston hospital.
Maloney has been in the Massachusetts National
Guard for 16 years and has deployed to Egypt
and Kosovo. He became certified as an EMT
while stationed in Kosovo and discovered some
differences between his civilian and military
medical training. “Outside of the military, I have
not seen tourniquets widely used,” Maloney said.
Since the accident, Maloney learned that the
man’s condition had improved. Maloney said, “I
was happy that myself and the other people at
the scene were able to help. Thankfully we all
came together, and although he lost his leg, it’s
great to hear that he is doing OK.”
When Maloney’s commander, Lt. Col. Arthur M.
Elbthal, 182nd Infantry Battalion, Massachusetts
Army National Guard, learned of the incident,
he said, “Sgt. Maloney is a very strong noncommissioned
officer. He has demonstrated
the highest levels of professionalism and
competence time and again, and we are very
proud to call him our own.”
Sgt. Michael Popovics, Massachusetts State
Police, said, “The state police appreciate the
quick action taken by Sgt. Maloney. His efforts
likely prevented the victim from suffering more
serious, and possibly even fatal, injury.”
The cause of the accident is under investigation,
and any information about the case can be
reported to the Massachusetts State Police at
(781) 659-7911. ✯