Always on duty: a Florida Coastie takes his life-saving training out on the road

Coast Guard Magazine, Sept-Oct, 2007 by Thomas Blue

BM3 Paul Anderson, Station Destin, Fla., is no stranger to helping people on the water, but dong it on land was something new.

While driving home one afternoon, Anderson was stopped at a traffic light, when he witnessed a traffic accident unfold along Beal Parkway in Fort Walton Beach.

"I could hear tires and brakes screeching, and then I saw the crash beside me," Anderson said.

He quickly pulled over to the shoulder and went to the accident to help the occupants.

"It all happened so fast, I just reacted the way I had trained," said Anderson.

He went to the closest car first. There he found the driver disoriented and covered with glass.

"I told the man to calm down and sat him down while I examined him for any further injuries," said Anderson.

By this time a Fort Walton Beach policeman made his way to the scene and began directing traffic around the accident.

After helping the driver down to the curb to wait for paramedics, Anderson hurried to the second car.

There he found two women shaken and confused.

"I explained to the women who I was and that I was here to help, but not to move paramedics were on their way," said Anderson.

"In this day and age, citizen involvement is rare," said Ted Litschauer, chief of police from FWB PD. "We appreciate Petty Officer Anderson's actions in assisting our police officers and further preventing another accident."

Anderson's actions earned him much praise from those involved. He received a letter of appreciation from the FWBPD.

"It felt like a search and rescue case," said Anderson. "I'm not the type of person to sit and watch people needing help, I help them."

Story and photo by PA3 Thomas Blue, 8th Dist.