United
States Coast Guard
Sitka, Alaska
It’s not always easy to reach critically
ill or injured patients—especially in Southeast Alaska.
In this area, made up of many islands and rugged mountains,
communities
often are accessible only by boat or float plane. Weather
can be a significant obstacle to transportation. Frequently
it takes the collaboration of several organizations to get
patients to medical treatment. One organization that can
always be relied upon is the United States Coast Guard. Well
known for their search-and-rescue skills, these men and women
are highly trained to fly in adverse conditions. “We
often can fly when others can’t,” says Capt.
J.R. Bowman, Flight Surgeon at Air Station Sitka. The Coast
Guard can transfer patients to Airlift Northwest or take
them to the closest facility. Often they will perform challenging
transfers of people from ships at sea. Their helicopters
fly with EMTs and frequently with a flight surgeon to ensure
that patients receive the care they need during transport.
Airlift Northwest has worked alongside the Coast Guard for
25 years to provide a critical link in the air medical transportation
system.
(More
patient and partner stories here)
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