unleashed its fury not far from Miles Crawford’s home in New Orleans, fate seemed to intervene, as a man found himself trapped in rising floodwaters in his pickup truck.
Luckily, Crawford, the 39-year-old off-duty emergency room nurse at the University Medical Center, was there to spring into action.
With his professional training in saving lives quickly, Crawford wasted no time responding to the emergency unfolding in his New Orleans neighborhood. Daily Nurse proudly recognizes Crawford as the Nurse of the Week, commending his heroism, compassion, and quick thinking, all essential qualities that emergency nurses rely on in critical situations and where a few seconds can be life or death to save a man trapped in his pickup truck in flood waters.
Armed with a hammer from his house, Crawford braved the swirling waist-high waters to reach the stranded driver in the underpass. With the water already at the man’s head, Crawford knew immediate action was crucial. Instructing the driver to move to the safer back of the truck, Crawford swiftly smashed the back window with the hammer and rescued the man just as he was on the brink of being swept away.
Describing his actions as instinctive, Crawford humbly downplayed his role in the rescue, emphasizing the importance of quick decisions in high-stress situations. Despite sustaining a cut to his hand during the operation, Crawford remained focused on the task at hand, prioritizing the safety of the trapped individual.
Reflecting on the incident, Crawford acknowledged that his actions were second nature to him as a nurse, emphasizing the importance of taking immediate action in critical situations. With the pickup truck submerged just minutes after the rescue, Crawford’s response undoubtedly saved a life that day.
Nominate a Nurse of the Week! Every Wednesday, DailyNurse.com features a nurse making a difference in the lives of their patients, students, and colleagues. We encourage you to nominate a nurse who has impacted your life as the next Nurse of the Week, and we’ll feature them online and in our weekly newsletter.
The post ER Nurse Miles Crawford Saves Man Trapped in Hurricane Floodwaters first appeared on Daily Nurse.