— from Whidbey Island Naval Air Station —
A Search and Rescue (SAR) team from Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island conducted a medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) from Orcas Island in the early morning hours of November 6, 2019.
The SAR crew responded to a call to transport a 47-year-old male suffering from head injuries from Orcas Island Airport to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
The SAR crew arrived at Orcas Island Airport at approximately 1:45 a.m. where they picked up the patient. The patient was transported to Harborview Medical Center, where they landed by approximately 2:20 a.m.
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island SAR has conducted 39 total missions throughout Washington State this year, including twelve searches, fifteen rescues and twelve medical evacuations.
The Navy SAR unit operates three MH-60S helicopters from NAS Whidbey Island as search and rescue/medical evacuation (SAR/MEDEVAC) platforms for the EA-18G aircraft as well as other squadrons and personnel assigned to the installation. Pursuant to the National SAR Plan of the United States, the unit may also be used for civil SAR/MEDEVAC needs to the fullest extent practicable on a non-interference basis with primary military duties according to applicable national directives, plans, guidelines and agreements; specifically, the unit may launch in response to tasking by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (based on a Washington State Memorandum of Understanding) for inland missions, and/or tasking by the United States Coast Guard for all other aeronautical and maritime regions, when other assets are unavailable.
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More dislocated shoulders from patting your own back, NAS Whidbey?
Hope you’re covered for that.
I would like to thank NAS Whidbey for being available to provide MEDEVAC’s as a backup. It is clear that they are sometimes needed and having been MEDEVAC’d last week, I’m glad to know that there is such a backup. NAS Whidbey is providing a valuable civil service and it is good for us to know that they are there when needed. Thank you!