| Public Affairs Detachment San Diego, Calif. U.S. Coast Guard |
|
|
| Media Release |
Date: June 7, 2008
Contact: PADET San Diego, CA |
|
Coast Guard Conducts Multiple Medical Evacuations ***VIDEO AVAILABLE***
The first medical evacuation, a 57-year-old male from the fishing vessel Polaris Supreme, located 190 miles south of San Diego, was reported to be suffering from a serious infection to his right hand and arm.
In the second evacuation, Coast Guard Sector San Diego was notified by the cruise ship Vision of the Seas, located 240 miles southwest of San Diego, that a female passenger was showing signs of going into premature labor.
The 45-year-old female is 28 weeks pregnant.
A Coast Guard flight surgeon determined both patients would require immediate medical evacuation. Sector San Diego launched MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and flight surgeon for the dual medical evacuation.
“It is extremely uncommon having two back-to-back medivacs, especially like this that require a tremendous amount of planning, logistics, and coordination involving specialized equipment and personnel,” said Mark Mutchler, a civilian search and rescue coordinator at Coast Guard Sector San Diego Command Center. “Based on the complexity of the situation a concerted effort between the Coast Guard and medical facilities were conducted and ended with successful delivery of both patients.”
Both patients were hoisted onto the helicopter and transferred to Scripps Hospital in La Jolla, Calif., and video is available from both cases.
For video, please click here . For interviews with the Coast Guard helicopter rescue crew media can contact Jetta Disco at (619) 278-7023.
-Coast Guard- |
printer friendly