MCAS Cherry Point  –   A Sailor serving aboard Marine Corps Cherry Point relied on her Emergency Medicine training to provide first aid while responding to a car accident in late May, 2021, in eastern North Carolina.

Navy Lieutenant Dana Amezaga, a Navy Nurse, provided medical aid to the victim of a car accident while coordinating for the arrival of emergency medical services while traveling home from her duty at Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point.

“Once I got to the scene, I saw the driver and noticed blood dripping from one of their upper extremities,” said Amezaga upon realizing there was a medical emergency.  “I ran back to my car to get my kit and started to render first aid.”

Amezaga was driving when she initially saw debris on the road, leading her to discover a truck in a ditch on the opposite side.  Noticing one vehicle parked nearby in the median, she stopped to make an assessment of the situation and discovered the injured person.

“I assessed and addressed the bleeding with a pressure dressing while asking the driver questions to determine their medical and mental status,” said Amezaga about her initial response.  “Once that was finished, I started a head-to-toe assessment to check for other injuries while directing bystanders to guide EMS onto the scene.”

Amezaga credits her training in Emergency Medicine to calm herself while managing an adrenaline rush to assess the situation and render medical aid; skills she does not use in her daily duties at the clinic.  

Currently In an administrative role, she coordinates and tracks continuing education and training.  She also leads a team of sailors providing medical training to Marines and civilians serving in the 2nd Marine Aviation Wing and Fleet Readiness Center East.

“This experience reminded me why I became a U.S. Navy Nurse,” she said.