Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 Download
 Details
 Share
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Kansas National Guard Combat Medic Puts Her Training to Use By Steve Larson,
                Kansas Army National Guard
 Sgt. 1st Class Tiffany Alligood is the readiness noncommissioned officer and a combat medic with the Kansas Army National Guard's 1077th Ground Ambulance Company at the Lenexa armory. As a combat medic, she has seen her share of emergency situations during deployments, assisted in motor vehicle accidents, and treated minor injuries in the community. However, on Feb. 8, she faced a situation much closer to home. "I was walking back to my office from the supply room," said Alligood. "When I entered the foyer, I noticed that a mother was taking her child out of his wheelchair and placing him on the ground." Nine-year-old Kayden Griffith attended a STARBASE academy at the armory with his fifth-grade classmates from Rosehill Elementary in Lenexa. Alligood said the mother, Angie Griffith, appeared very calm, so Alligood didn't think anything of it at first. That calm came partly because this was not a new situation for Kayden. Griffith explained that Kayden was diagnosed with a genetic condition called spinal muscular atrophy Type 1 when he was six weeks old. "SMA is a progressive condition where he cannot sit up, hold his head and move independently," said Griffith. "It robs him of any strength in breathing. He lost his swallow when he was three months old, so part of all the equipment we carry is there in case something like last week happens, where he starts choking since he cannot cough or swallow. “I guess you could say I have nine years of training. Every day we do respiratory treatments with him just to keep his airway clear since he can’t cough on his own to keep his lungs expanded and healthy. That alone keeps you knowing what you need to do but in the back of your mind. You know what the steps are that need to be done in that situation.” The situation on Feb. 8 began as STARBASE was finishing the last class of the day and Griffith saw Kayden was having trouble breathing due to a buildup of secretions. “It was getting to where he was needing suction, so I backed him out of the room,” said Griffith. “When we got him out, I could tell by looking at him, his color, and the panic in his eyes, also looking at his pulse oximeter he always has on that his oxygen was dropping. His nurse and I knew we needed to get him out of his chair and get him to the floor because suctioning him wasn’t enough.” Griffith and the nurse began to prepare the cough assist machine that is part of the equipment they always carry wherever Kayden goes. That is when Alligood came back to them. “As soon as I walked into my office, I had a gut feeling telling me to go check on them,” said Alligood. “I walked over to the mom and noticed the child was not doing well and appeared to be having a medical emergency. When I saw that the child was blue in the face, my first reaction was to check for a pulse. Once I determined that he didn’t have a pulse, I immediately started CPR and asked for someone to call 911.” “It was nice to have somebody who had medical training who could check pulse and do chest compressions instead of me having to do all of it,” said Griffith. “She was able to do those things while his nurse and I made sure we were getting his airway clear and air moving with his BiPAP ventilator mask and the cough assist. Having multiple hands made the process go a lot faster. I didn’t have to take the time to explain to people what needs to be done.” While Alligood attended to the child, Staff Sgt. Nick Watkins assisted in positioning him to clear his airway and prepped him in case he needed to be defibrillated. Other Soldiers contacted 911, retrieved the automated external defibrillator, kept the other children away from the scene, and coordinated with school buses to arrange an alternate exit plan. After several minutes of CPR, Kayden had a pulse and was breathing on his own. “Fortunately, all of the events that took place only lasted about 15 minutes,” said Alligood. “We were able to restore the heart for the child and keep him stable until fire department EMS arrived.”
“I’ve had a lot of friends ask right after how I was doing,” said Griffith. “I told them I was calm. I could feel that I was not panicking. I think it’s because I didn’t have to order people around and worry about all the other things. I could do what I needed to do knowing she knew what she was doing, and his nurse knew what she needed to do to help me, as well. Alligood's actions did not go unnoticed by those in her chain of command. “Sergeant First Class Alligood has always been an exceptional soldier, medic and NCO,” said Capt. Brandon Maxwell, assistant deputy state surgeon. “I am not surprised that she was able to assist during this event as she maintains situational awareness at all times and takes her job as a medic to heart.” Maj. Gen. David Weishaar, the adjutant general, also recognized Alligood and the other Soldiers involved in the emergency response by presenting each with an Adjutant General coin. Alligood has been in contact with the boy's family since the incident. “He was released from the hospital the next day and is back home resting and doing well.” At the time, Alligood did not know she was assisting someone who may one day be president of the United States. “Kayden wrote her a thank you letter afterwards,” said Griffith. “He explained the mission he was put here for is to be president, to make this country a better place. He says, ‘The things for our future generations aren’t right in our country right now’ and he’s trying to find ways to correct that. Kayden said he can’t do that if he wasn’t here. He was thankful that she could help him.
“He’s always out there looking for people he’s going to add on to his Cabinet when he becomes president someday. He already offered that to her to be ready for a job opportunity when he becomes president.”
 SHARE
 PRINT
  Kansas National Guard
 
 105th Airmen Support Security Forces Training at Red Flag
 By 1st Lt. Briana Ross,
  Kansas Guard, Armenian Partner Complete Eagle Partner Exercise
 By Maj. Jennifer Dyrcz,
  35th Infantry Division Hosts 2023 Readiness Symposium
 By Sgt. Evan Anderson,
  More
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course Guard News • 1 hour ago
 38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise Guard News • 8 hours ago
 Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska Guard News • 8 hours ago
 Air National Guard Conducts Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Hawaii Air National Guard Hosts Sentry Aloha Joint Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 2024 (196)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil