By John Mazurie III
Nearly all Scouts will work to attain the rank of Eagle Scout. Of the twenty-one merit badges required, many will argue that the most valuable badge earned on our trail to Eagle is First Aid. Curtis "Cray" Steger, an Eagle Scout from Troop 405 in Georgetown, Texas, and a Brotherhood member of Tonkawa Lodge 99, knows just how important the First Aid Merit Badge is in his everyday life.
On a dark night back in September, Cray and his family were coming home from his high school basketball game when he noticed a man lying in the road ahead of him. Immediately, his parents stopped the car and Cray leaped out to find the man who fell victim to a motorcycle accident on the highway. Cray's years in Scouting had taught him exactly what to do. "I took off my jersey and tied it onto his leg," Cray explained. "After we got the tourniquet on, I went to check his pulse. I also asked him a few questions just to see if he had any brain injuries or concussions." Cray was thirteen when he took the First Aid merit badge. His counselor, a volunteer fireman, explained to Cray and his group that sometimes a tourniquet is the only way to go in situations such as what happened that night.
Although the paramedics arrived a few minutes later, those crucial minutes meant life or death for that man. Lieutenant Lynne Lingo of the Williamson County EMS said, "That's all you've got, and if you hesitate for a minute, then it's too late. Cray didn't hesitate. Cray stepped in. Cray did what he knew how to do."
After the incident, Cray was honored by the Commissioners and the County EMS Services in Williamson County. Cray's home council, the Capitol Area Council, will honor Cray for his outstanding actions at their annual awards banquet in February. Earlier in December, Cray was invited to a Christmas party for Loop 1 Systems, the company for which the accident victim works. Loop 1 Systems awarded five-thousand dollars to Cray toward his college funds, but more importantly, Cray had the opportunity to meet the man he saved.
Cray attributes much of his success as a Scout to the Order of the Arrow. He says that the ideals of the Order have inspired him tremendously. Cray always strives to cheerfully serve those around him in any way possible. "When you see someone who needs help, you should help them," he said.
Despite the numerous rounds of applause, awards, and commendations from multiple organizations, Cray says the time he shared with the victim and his wife are what mattered the most.