Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Coast Guard Medevacs Crewman From Bering Sea Vessel


A US Coast Guard crew medevaced a 43-year-old crewman from the fishing vessel Alaska Juris on Sept. 12, from Bering Sea waters 150 miles northeast of St. Paul Island, after the man showed symptoms of a heart attack.

The Coast Guard command center in Juneau received a request for the medevac from Health Force Partners, and the Coast Guard duty flight surgeon, when consulted, recommended the medevac.

A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Kodiak was launched in response, hoisted the patient to the helicopter eight hours later, and transferred him to commercial medevac services at St. Paul, who took him on for advanced medical care in Anchorage.

The Coast Guard did not disclose the patient’s name.

Adam De Rocher, a search and rescue controller at the 17th District command center in Juneau, said the case illustrates the importance of the hoist capable aircraft in Alaska and their ability to respond statewide to medical emergencies.

The crew flew a distance of more than 500 miles in order to conduct the medevac.

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