Maxwell AFB Ala. -- On Thursday, September 1, there was an accident resulting in a serious foot injury to Senior Airman Jude Castanos, a member of the 908th Maintenance Squadron Sheet Metal shop. Castanos, along with Staff Sgt. Steven Harris, Senior Airman Dustin Smith and Master Sgt. James Melton were working to restore a light duty trailer in the corrosion control blast booth in bldg. 1456. The front of the trailer was already on jack stands as Castanos attempted to lift and help place stands under the rear of the trailer. The trailer shifted and fell off the front jack stands, causing the rear of the trailer to bottom out. An “L” shaped angle iron came down on Castanos’ foot making contact between the steel toe of his boot and his ankle.
At first, Castanos said he wasn’t sure if he was hurt. The impact felt like pressure and the pain was not immediate. “Harris was the first to notice I had blood coming out of my boot,” Castanos said. Within seconds everyone with him sprang into action. Melton went inside to call for an ambulance while Harris ran to get the first-aid kit. Smith stayed with Castanos and helped him get his boot off and elevate the injured foot above his heart. Smith also called Castanos’ wife. Castanos spoke with her to let her know he’d been hurt, but not to worry. When Harris returned with the First Aid kit, Castanos foot was still bleeding significantly despite being elevated. “Since it was bleeding I put plenty of bandages on it and then wrapped his foot real tight,” Harris said.
Once his foot was bandaged, Harris and Master Sgt. Cody Green moved Castanos into the shade and waited for the ambulance to arrive. Castanos said he and Green were already discussing the accident report while waiting. Smith waited for the ambulance on the far side of the building, directing it to where Castanos was located. He was taken to Jackson hospital for treatment. “The injuries to his foot included a damaged artery so when the medical staff at Jackson Hospital unwrapped Castanos’ foot it started bleeding again,” said Maj. Richard Cox, Commander of the 908th Maintenance Squadron. “They said whoever bandaged him up on scene did an excellent job. It is fortunate that Harris was there, as he has previously studied to be a nurse and has worked in a hospital.” X-rays later revealed that Castanos had sustained four broken bones in his foot. He recently shared that the doctor said it looks like everything is going to mend properly and no surgery is required.
“I really owe those guys,” Castanos said. “They all performed flawlessly. Everyone acted as if we had planned and practiced for just this event beforehand. Sgt. Harris did an outstanding job. Within just a few minutes they had taken care of me and we were just waiting for the ambulance to arrive.”