JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A quick errand at his local Navy Exchange at Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville the afternoon of Feb. 19 turned into a life-saving event for Navy Reserve Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Devin B. Hobdy.
Hobdy, a Selected Reserve Sailor assigned to Commander, Navy Region Southeast Reserve Component Command (CNRSE RCC) Jacksonville, was standing in the Exchange checkout line when he suddenly spotted a young Marine convulsing on the floor.
Hobdy instinctively moved in and proceeded to do a quick assessment of the Marine.
“I noticed he looked blue and wasn’t breathing,” said Hobdy. “I also realized he had no pulse.”
Hobdy told the closest person to him to call 911 and instructed another to find an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) before moving swiftly to administer CPR by himself.
Soon another Sailor, Naval Air Crewman 1st Class Nathan James, assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing Atlantic’s Surface Rescue Swimmer School, joined Hobdy and offered to assist. Hobdy administered chest compressions to the young Marine while James provided rescue breaths.
“When the AED arrived, I lifted his shirt, connected the AED to his body and followed the prompts accordingly,” Hobdy said. The AED automatically analyzed the Marine’s erratic heart rhythm and delivered an electrical shock to his heart, which eventually restored a normal rhythm.
Shortly after the electrical shock was administered, the Marine began to regain consciousness.
Hobdy’s quick, decisive action made the difference between life and death.
“Somebody tapped me on the shoulder, and I realized that the paramedics had arrived,” said Hobdy.
The AED’s data later revealed the Marine had suffered ventricular fibrillation (VF), a rare, life-threatening cardiac disturbance resulting in a rapid, inadequate heartbeat. As a result of VF, the body’s electrical signals cause the heart’s ventricles to quiver instead of pumping normally, causing low blood pressure, loss of consciousness or death.
Hobdy, who is from Plains, Ga, has served in the Navy for 12 years. He currently resides in Jacksonville with his wife, Jasmine, and two boys, Devin Jr. and Bryson.
For his heroic efforts in saving another’s life, Hospital Corpsman 2nd class Devin B. Hobdy was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.
NRSE RCC Jacksonville generates mobilization readiness in support of Joint Forces deployed globally by providing Reserve Component expertise, administrative services, and training support to over 8,000 Reserve Sailors.
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