TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Twenty-four hours is what an ambulance service medical technician spends on a normal duty day. What may be hard for some is routine for this 325th Medical Group Airman.
Senior Airman Carlos Reid’s daily duties include Identifying the need for and initiating emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other critical life-saving measures as indicated or directed of neonate, pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients. He also is part of the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) team in conjunction with fire rescue crews, during wing exercises, natural disasters or mass casualty incidents. On May 16 he was given the chance to show Col. Michael Hernandez, 325th Fighter Wing commander, what those duties are. Reid was recommended for the program by his leadership, who noticed Reid’s knack for innovative thinking and initiative to enhance his work center.
“He is a true go-getter who is always looking for ways to improve the mission and puts safety first while performing his ambulance services duty,” said Staff Sgt. Jason Slajchert, 325th MDG ambulance service medical technician and Reid’s supervisor. “He has shown involvement in the community by organizing the ‘Angels Pantry Pasta Drive’ which fed 396 underprivileged people. Reid is truly tops amongst his peers.”
Reid expressed the joy he felt every day serving his country.
“My favorite aspect about my job is not knowing what may happen or what kind of medical emergency my unit will get called out to,” said Reid the Queens, New York native. “Each day is its own surprise.”
Reid lives with his wife and 10-month-old daughter. He has been in the Air Force for two-and-a-half years originally joining to be in an avionics career field, but was then given a medical job as an ambulance technician. A job he grew to love.
“My goal is to become an aeromedical evacuation technician,” said Reid. “I’d also like to complete my Community College of the Air Force degree, and eventually become a paramedic.”
Reid was very grateful to be recognized and will remember this opportunity as a lasting experience.
“It was an honor to give the wing commander a crash-course of our operations,” Reid said. “What made the experience even more special was that his first time in an ambulance was me showing him the ropes and not him in need of medical care.”