The 18-month-old girl and her mother were flown to Cold Bay where they were safely transferred at 8:47 p.m. to a waiting Guardian Flight aircraft for further transportation to Anchorage for medical care and observation.
Coast Guard 17th District Command Center personnel received a request Monday afternoon from medical personnel at the Iliuliuk Health Clinic requesting medevac for the toddler who is reported to have consumed adult medication which could be toxic for a child.
The command center personnel directed the launch of Kodiak-based Dolphin helicopter crew from the Rush to assist the toddler in need. Due to wind conditions commercial life flight was unable to safely land at the Tom Madsen Airport in Unalaska.
“Throughout the year we have our cutters on patrol in the Bering Sea and these cutters often have helicopters deployed on board to increase search and rescue abilities in the region,” said Lt. Robert Baysden, 17th District command duty officer. “The close proximity of the Rush’s deployable helicopter crew allowed us to quickly render assistance which could prove the difference in life or death for the child.”
The toddler was reported in stable condition at the time of transfer.
The Coast Guard maintains four Dolphin helicopters at Air Station Kodiak for use in short range missions and cutter deployments. The Rush is a 378-foot high endurance cutter homeported in Honolulu.
No comments:
Post a Comment