Submitted by NAS Whidbey Island

On Wednesday, Jan. 11, the evening Search and Rescue Alert crew was notified of a medical evacuation (medevac) mission from Orcas Island while working to the east of the Air Station. The crew immediately turned back towards NAS Whidbey Island to pick up the SAR Medical Technician (SMT) and refuel the helicopter. The crew landed at the Orcas Island airport at 8:14 p.m. and the SMT met with the ambulance to assess the patient. Once everyone was loaded, the helicopter departed the airport at 8:36 p.m. and proceeded directly to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham for patient turnover.

On the evening of Tuesday, Jan. 17, two patients were taken by medevac from Friday Harbor. The first of the evening launched just after 7:30 p.m. to pick up a patient suffering from cardiac distress. After the SMT conducted patient transfer the crew departed Friday Harbor and proceeded directly to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham, where the patient was delivered to a higher level of care. The second mission of the evening launched at 1:30 a.m. to transport a patient suffering neurological symptoms due to a fractured spine. Once on deck, the SMT conducted patient turnover and they were loaded into the aircraft. The helicopter departed Friday Harbor airport at 2:25 a.m.and proceeded directly to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle arriving there 26 minutes later.