MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE -- During the Labor Day holiday weekend, while many Marines and sailors were relaxing and taking time off from work, not thinking about anything work related, one sailor used her medical training to save a life.
Seaman Recruit Nicole Robshaw, a corpsman with Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune, kicked off her Labor Day weekend with a friend and planned to practice her hobby, photography.
“It was near eight in the morning on Saturday and we had decided to go to the Waffle House in Warsaw to grab something to eat,” said Robshaw. “Once we got there we ordered our food and just chatted while we were waiting for our food.”
Robshaw then noticed that her friend’s face had gone white and behind her, she could hear a thump as someone hit the floor. When Robshaw turned around, she saw an elderly man on the floor and a lady nearby in a state of panic.
“I calmed her down and then had her put his head on her lap,” said Robshaw. “Meanwhile people were already starting to group around, I told them I was in the Navy and that I was certified.”
Robshaw’s training instantly kicked in and she started assessing the situation, taking a pulse and noticed that it immediately went from 136 beats per minute with labored breathing to flat lining.
Robshaw immediately started using her basic lifesaving skills and when she assessed the gentleman, she got back 40 beats per minute, a low pulse but a hopeful sign.
“Once I got a pulse from him I started asking him questions,” said Robshaw. “Once the local emergency services showed up, I passed on what information I had gathered, washed my hands, ate my waffles and left.”
Robshaw credits the training she has received while in the Navy. Robshaw said that the training kicked in and she went on autopilot.
After the Labor Day weekend, when Robshaw was asked how her weekend was, she calmly told her story, thinking it would not be a big deal. As word of her heroics spread, the command chief presented her with a challenge coin.
Robshaw recently finished her training at the Naval Hospital Corps School and is aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune to attend more training at the Field Medical Training Battalion aboard Camp Johnson.
“I didn’t know that I would be using all the training I learned less than two months ago,” said Robshaw. “But like another chief told us at school, ‘anything can happen, anywhere, so just stand by.’”