On on Monday, 4 February, While returning from Pensacola on US 98, Trooper Thornton witnessed a two-car accident when Vehicle 1 was traveling West on US 98. The impact was severe it caused one of the vehicles to be moved some distance. A 71 year old female was trapped in one of the vehicles. Trooper Thornton immediately took charge of the scene by notifying dispatch.
He then directed an Air Force Paramedic (who also witnessed the event) to hold C-Spine and he retrieved his trauma bag and cervical collar from the patrol car. The 71 year old female appeared to have a right hip fracture, right humorous fracture or dislocation and head trauma and was tightly pinned into the car. With the help of the Air Force Paramedic he placed a cervical collar on her and started to assess her vital signs. She was in extreme respiratory distress and could not breath or respond verbally. The seat belt had locked during the impact but was now preventing her from breathing.
The belt's release was jammed and would not function, drawing on his past training he took his seat belt cutter from his trauma kit and cut the seat belts allowing her to breath. He assessed her as critical and asked TRCC for 2 X-71’s one for the critical patient and one for the two minor injuries. He also requested the fire Department to extricate her from the wreckage. Fire arrived first, being readily identifiable as a Trooper, Thornton then identified himself and the Air Forcer NCO as paramedic's he then asked them to get the jaws of life to cut the roof off since the door was crushed in too far to be opened. Placing a blanket over her, he explained that they were going to be cutting into the vehicle and that he didn’t want the flying glass to injure her. Okaloosa EMS (MEDCOM) arrived and he briefed them on his actions, turned the patient over to them and then assisted the responding Trooper with traffic control and in requesting the X-70’s and other crash investigation duties. For his quick action and life saving tactics, Auxiliary Trooper Mike Thornton is most strongly recommended for selection as Trooper of the Quarter.
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