UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — It is not easy for retired U.S. Army Sgt. Adam Hartswick to look back at the video that shows the most difficult moment in his life; the day he lost his legs and four of his fellow soldiers while serving in Afghanistan.
But, as a tactical medical instructor for the Penn State-run Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff Training Program, he watches the difficult video with trainees, not to focus on the sacrifice that he made, but, instead, to share the tactics that saved his life, he said. The Justice and Safety Institute is a Penn State Outreach Program.
“It is rare for there to be footage and a survivor of the situation. I am not here to toot my own horn, I am here to show that I am alive because of good training and the love of my brothers,” Hartswick said.
The most preventable cause of death in a tactical situation, such as a bombing or mass shooting, is massive extremity bleeding, Hartswick said. The tool to prevent those deaths is the correct application of a tourniquet, and he is living proof.
Hartswick was serving as a senior combat medic that day on May 14, 2013, working to rescue and render aid to members of his company who had been injured or killed by improvised explosive devises (IEDs).
While working to rescue his brothers in arms, another IED exploded, instantly causing him to lose both of his legs, his right index fingertip, the tip of his thumb and part of his wrist.
In that chaotic and difficult moment, Hartswick somehow had the strength, resilience and know how to perform the life-saving skill that he had taught to so many soldiers during his service.
“The first thing we teach is self-aid, how to put a torniquet on yourself. After I got blown up, I tried to do that. I got it mostly, but I was missing a finger. I did it with eight-and-a-half fingers,” Hartswick said.
When another soldier made his way over to Hartswick, he yelled to the injured combat medic, “Doc, tell me what do to.” Hartswick told his fellow soldier the same thing he preaches in all of his tactical first aid training classes.
“’Tourniquets, high and tight,’ I told him. And he did it because he already knew how. He was just keeping me in the fight,” Hartswick said. After that, he was rushed to a helicopter, where the torniquets were again adjusted as he was flown to a hospital where his life was saved.
After multiple surgeries, and a long and grueling rehabilitation, Hartswick eventually grew strong again. He adapted to living with the assistance of a wheelchair and prosthetics, and after being medically discharged from the Army, he returned to his hometown of State College.
“I survived because of the love of my brothers, because of their ability to care about this training and their work to train it ad nauseam,” Hartswick said. “The video also shows the resilience you need to have to be in this profession as a protector, because as a protector, or as a guardian of people, you must be more resilient than the average person.”
That is the message he shares now with the newly hired sheriffs and deputy sheriffs taking part in the academy, which is run by the Penn State Justice and Safety Institute. Academy Director David White said it is a message that hits home with the trainees.
“Adam’s story is invaluable to the instruction of the deputies as it relates to tourniquet application,” said White, “It is not only a visual representation of how tourniquets can save your life, but it is a powerful message of resilience.”
Because of his time in the armed forces, Hartswick said, he understands the call to serve and the sacrifices that law enforcement personnel are making. He said he is working with the team at JASI to give those new to the field the tools they need to keep themselves and others in the community safe.
“Everything thing we do in our profession is out of love for our fellow man. Nobody is here because they want to fight. Nobody is here because they want to carry a gun. They are here because they want to protect people. This is a compassionate thing,” Hartswick said. “At the end of the day they are here because they care about their communities and their fellow man.”
Hartswick lives in the area with his wife and is building a career as a voice actor. Training new first responders in the skill that saved his life allows him to continue helping others, harking back to the reason he became a combat medic all those years ago.
“As a medic, I could serve my country and help people. That is what a medic does, they help ally and enemy alike,” Hartswick said. “At the end of a fight, if there are survivor's, we help them.”