Submitted by NAS Whidbey Island

Search and Rescue (SAR) teams from Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island conducted two island Medical Evacuations (MEDEVACs) between Thursday, Feb. 9, and Friday, Feb. 10.

The first mission was a high-risk pregnancy patient in active labor at the PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center in Friday Harbor just after 1:15 a.m on Thursday. After receiving the alert, the SAR crew of five thoroughly reviewed weather along the route readied the aircraft and launched just after two in the morning. Based on the potential for a birth in flight, the crew decided to take a second search and rescue medical technician (SMT) in order to provide advanced medical support to mother and child, should it be needed. The crew faced low clouds and driving rain, but visibility was good and they arrived at the island airport at 2:20 a.m. Once on deck, both SMTs conducted patient turnover with the local medical personnel while the pilots and crew chief reviewed weather for the next leg of flight. The crew determined that the best route to Island Hospital in Anacortes would be to circle south and then east of the San Juan Islands, in order to avoid low clouds to the north. The SMTs returned with the patient and were ready to depart for the hospital just before 3 a.m. The crew departed and flew to Island Hospital where the patient was delivered to a higher level of care at 3:15 a.m.

Naval Aircrewman First Class Justin Colon said, “Despite some low clouds on the way to Friday Harbor, we were able to fly clear of the weather and use our landmarks to safely transfer the patient.”

The second mission happened Friday morning and was for a patient suffering from cardiac issues on Lopez Island. The SAR Alert crew of six launched at 11:36 a.m. and arrived at the Lopez Island airport 10 minutes later, helped by a strong tailwind. Once on deck, the two SMTs conducted patient turnover and loaded the patient onto the helicopter. The crew departed the island airport just after 12:15 p.m. and proceeded directly to Snohomish County Airport in Everett. On this leg, a strong headwind slowed the flight down, but they landed at the airport 30 minutes after takeoff and met an Advanced Life Support (ALS)-capable ambulance for patient transfer to Providence Regional Medical Center.

This makes brings to total to eight MEDEVACs for 2017 by NAS Whidbey Island SAR, which has also conducted one search. In 2016, the unit conducted 51 missions including 14 MEDEVACS, 24 rescues and 13 searches totaling 53 lives delivered to a higher level of care.