SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Lunch turned into lifesaving for New York Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Christina Watson on April 21, 2016, when she stepped in to save the life of a woman suffering from a drug overdose in a Mattydale, New York, diner.
Watson, a member of the 174th Attack Wing, based at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, was honored for her actions by the American Red Cross of Central New York, during the organization's Real Heroes Breakfast at Syracuse's Oncenter on Wednesday, Dec. 7.
The annual breakfast honors individuals who have made a difference in their community. Watson, a North Syracuse resident, was one of 23 people honored at the event, which recognized medical personnel, police officers, firefighters and local residents.
The incident Watson was recognized for took place around 11 a.m. as she and a friend arrived at Dee's Diner for lunch.
"Shortly after we sat down to order, a young woman in her 20's got up to use the restroom," Watson recalled.
While in the restroom, she had fallen and hit the door to the restroom stall, causing the door to pop open. The owner of the restaurant noticed the woman on the floor and immediately began screaming."
The restaurant owner yelled for someone to call for an ambulance because there was blood everywhere. Watson's friend told the owner that Watson was an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and could provide assistance.
"When I got to the door of the restroom, I saw an unconscious female with two hypodermic needles stuck in her left arm," Watson said.
"As a result of her fall, she split the back of her head open, which is where all the blood came from and she wasn't breathing at all. I had the person that I was with support her neck, we put a towel behind her head to try to stop the bleeding, and I began chest compressions," she recalled.
Within a few minutes the Hinsdale Fire Department, Onondaga County Sherriff's and the North Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps were on scene to take over.
Watson credited her military training for her quick response, as well as training she received from Rural Metro Medical Services, the Syracuse area local area ambulance service.
"I am very grateful for the intestinal fortitude that the military has given me and the chance to be influenced by great leaders," Watson said.
Watson said she can't take all the credit for what she did that day.
"There is a list of people that I've met in my life that helped me be prepared for a situation like that," Watson said.
"Had it not been for those people, I wouldn't have been able to respond the way that I did. I believe that they deserve some of the credit too," she added.