NAS Whiting Field Fire Fighter Assists in Medical Emergency in
the Community
By: Lt. j.g. Camila Healey, U.S. Navy
Pensacola, Fla. – Lt. Justin Heinen, a member of Whiting Field Station One, Fire and Emergency
Services Gulf Coast, was enjoying his weekend with his daughters at Sky Zone Pensacola, an indoor
trampoline park, when he observed a crowd around a woman in distress on the ground. Without
hesitation, Heinen approached her to provide the initial response to stabilize her until the ambulance
arrived.
“When I approached the crowd, I saw Mrs. White on the ground. She looked very pale, and I immediately
knew she was entering shock,” said Heinen. “My instinct kicked in and I initiated my field exam to assess
her injuries. It was obvious to me that her ulna was broken due to the deformity of her arm. She also
stated she had hit her head when she fell, so I stabilized her head to ensure no further injury to her head or
neck would occur.”
Heinen is passionate about helping others in their worst moments. Prior to joining Whiting Field Station
One in 2018, he served on active duty in the Air Force for 4 years with the fire and rescue department. He
has also worked for the civil service as an emergency medical technician (EMT) and firefighter and
continues to volunteer with a local fire department.
The injured civilian, Jane White, is typically the one providing care to her daughter, who has Down
syndrome, and her four grandchildren. But when she tripped and fell she was in dire need of care herself.
“Lt. Heinen saved my life,” said White. “I simply tripped, but I was immediately in excruciating pain
from breaking my arm in three places. He went above and beyond to comfort me in my time of distress by
placing cold compresses on my head, stabilizing my neck, and providing emergency responders with all
the information when they arrived.”
Heinen is recognized as a kind and humble individual by his community and supervisor at Whiting Field.
He demonstrates his leadership ability when guiding teams through daily training operations.
“While I am very grateful that the care I provided was to the standard our community expects
from the U.S. Navy, I did not save her life,” said Heinen humbly. “However, I rarely get the opportunity
to hear feedback from those I serve in the community, and it is great to know that we are making a
positive impact everyday.”
Naval Air Station Whiting Field, home of Training Air Wing Five, is the backbone of Naval Aviation
Training, supporting approximately 60 percent of all primary fixed-wing flight training and 100 percent
of all initial helicopter training for the Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps. NAS Whiting Field is the
busiest aviation complex in the world with more than one million flight operations flown at the
installation annually. It is comprised of two main airfields and 12 Navy Outlying Landing Fields across
four counties in Southeast Alabama and Northwest Florida. Training Air Wing Five flies an estimated 43
percent of the Chief of Naval Air Training Command's total flight time and 17 percent of Navy and
Marine Corps' flight time worldwide. More than 1,200 personnel receive their essential flight training
through TRAWING Five annually.
| Date Taken: | 01.13.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 01.24.2023 11:43 |
| Story ID: | 437153 |
| Location: | FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 78 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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