Air Station Kodiak conducts long-range medevac of two elderly people, St. Paul Island, Alaska

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 08/03/2019 06:49 PM EDT

united states coast guard

 

News Release

  

U.S. Coast Guard 17th District Alaska
Contact: 17th District Public Affairs
Office: (907) 487-5700
After Hours: (907) 654-4112
17th District online newsroom

Air Station Kodiak conducts long-range medevac of two elderly people, St. Paul Island, Alaska

Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak HC-130 Hercules crew transfers an elderly woman and man to awaiting emergency medical services personnel in Anchorage, Alaska, Aug. 3, 2019. The woman and her husband were transported from St. Paul Island to Anchorage due to medical complications requiring higher medical care. U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo. Petty Officer 3rd Class Rena Gilbertson, a health services technician aboard an Air Station Kodiak HC-130J Hercules aircraft, works with Anchorage emergency medical services personnel to transfer a woman to higher medical care in Anchorage, Alaska, Aug. 3, 2019. Air Station Kodiak aircrews medevaced the woman and her husband from St. Paul Island, Alaska, to Anchorage for further care. U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo. A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak HC-130J Hercules aircrew works with Anchorage emergency medical services personnel to complete the medical evacuation of a man and woman from St. Paul Island to Anchorage, Alaska, Aug. 3, 2019. Aircrews completed a long-range medevac with a rescue swimmer and corpsman aboard to assist with in-flight medical concerns for both people. U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo.

KODIAK, Alaska - A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak HC-130J Hercules crew medically evacuated an 82-year-old woman and a 74-year-old man reported suffering from heart and hip complications from St. Paul Island Clinic on St. Paul Island, Alaska, Saturday morning. 

Both the husband and wife were transferred to awaiting medical personnel in Anchorage for further care. Both were reported in stable condition upon transfer.

At approximately 1:23 a.m., District 17 command center watchstanders received notification from the St. Paul Clinic for a husband and wife, both suffering from medical complications requiring transport to higher medical care. District directed the launch of an Air Station Kodiak Hercules aircrew with the support of a rescue swimmer and a corpsman aboard to assist with medical concerns in-flight for both the man and woman.

"Even in the summer in Alaska, the weather can change drastically, but our aircraft and personnel are well-equipped to support these types of missions when they arise," said Lt. Lars Anderson, the aircraft commander on the case. "With vast distances covered and inclement weather, our crews faced challenges but were ultimately happy to get this couple to the care they needed."

Weather on-scene was 9-mph winds, limited visibility and overcast skies. 

-USCG-