Ornge receives highest possible standing from Accreditation Canada

December, 5, 2018

(Mississauga, Ontario) – Ornge, Ontario's provider of air ambulance and related services, announces today that it has successfully received Accreditation with Exemplary Standing, the highest possible ranking, under Accreditation Canada's Qmentum program. The decision followed its first on-site survey in October 2018 as part of an ongoing Accreditation process.
 
"Accreditation with Exemplary Standing is an extraordinary accomplishment," says Dr. Andrew McCallum, President and CEO of Ornge. "Ornge prides itself on being a learning organization. Our accreditation result demonstrates Ornge's continued commitment to providing Ontario's patients with high quality transport and access to health services."

As part of the Accreditation process, external surveyors from Accreditation Canada visited Ornge's Thunder Bay, Ottawa, Toronto and London bases, Operations Control Centre and Mississauga headquarters to assess Ornge against national standards. The standards focused on topics that included governance, leadership, infection prevention and control, medication management and a number of clinical services.

Healthcare accreditation is a quality improvement process which helps organizations identify what they do well and where they need to focus their improvement efforts.  Ornge was evaluated against national standards and will use the results to improve the quality and safety of its services.

"Receiving Accreditation with Exemplary Standard is only the beginning," says Dr. Homer Tien, Chief Medical Officer at Ornge. "We participated in the accreditation process because we believe that quality and safety matter to our patients and their families. We are committed to identifying new opportunities and areas of improvement for Ornge to continue to provide high quality and safe air ambulance services and for Ontario's patients."

Coast Guard medevacs hiker after bear attack near Kodiak, Alaska

The Coast Guard medevacs a hiker Oct. 26, 2018, after he was mauled by a bear on Afognak Island, just north of Kodiak Island. The MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Kodiak hoisted the 31-year-old man who sustained multiple lacerations to his leg and brought him to Air Station Kodiak where he was placed in the care of awaiting EMS. U.S. Coast Guard video by Air Station Kodiak

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Coast Guard medevaced a hiker Friday after he was mauled by a bear on Afognak Island, just north of Kodiak Island.

A MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Kodiak hoisted the 31-year-old man who sustained multiple lacerations to his leg and brought him to Air Station Kodiak where he was placed in the care of awaiting EMS.

Watchstanders in the Coast Guard District 17 command center in Juneau received a call via satellite phone from a member of the hiking party requesting the medevac at approximately 1 p.m.

Watchstanders in the Sector Anchorage command center in Anchorage assumed the role of search and rescue mission coordinators and requested the launch of the helicopter crew.

"The Coast Guard in Alaska is best known for maritime search and rescue," said Coast Guard Ens. Scott Peters, Sector Anchorage command duty officer for the case. "But our helicopter crews often conduct inland search and rescue operations as well. Urgent situations like today require swift response from properly trained people, with assets capable of responding to persons in distress. Today that was us."

-USCG-

BELL DELIVERS THREE BELL 429S TO MERCY FLIGHT INC.

Medical transport company now one of the largest Bell 429 Helicopter Emergency Service (HEMS) operators in North America.

Fort Worth, TX (October 1, 2018) Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today the delivery of three Bell 429s to Mercy Flight Inc.

The Bell 429 delivers exceptional speed and aircraft readiness when minutes matter. Bell is incredibly proud to provide aircraft to support the men and women of Mercy Flight who dedicate their lives to serving others, and we look forward to working together for many years.
-Jay Ortiz, vice president, Commercial Business, Americas

Mercy Flight remains one of the few nonprofit providers of air and ground medical transport services. Established in 1981, Mercy Flight has safely completed more than 27,000 patient missions during the last 36 years. Providing around-the-clock care servicing all of Western New York, Northwestern Pennsylvania and beyond.

“The Bell 429 is an incredible platform, and we are proud to add three additional aircraft to our current fleet as we strive to continue our mission of saving lives and improving outcomes for many more years to come,” said Doug Baker, president, Mercy Flight. “The core of our business is crew and patient safety, and the Bell 429 has proven performance and reliability in demanding situations.”

There are currently more than 190 Bell helicopters performing HEMS operations around the world.

The Bell 429 is the only light twin-engine helicopter on the market with true two-litter capability, featuring enough cabin space for two medical attendants and two crew members. The Bell 429 also offers exceptional flight performance with a fully integrated glass cockpit, advanced drive system and best-in-class SBAS navigation and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) capability. It is the first helicopter certified through the MSG-3 process, resulting in reduced maintenance costs for operators. The Bell 429 also features a spacious cabin and extra-large 60-inch side doors, as well as IFR capability certified for single or dual pilot operations.

Coast Guard medevacs 48-year-old man 100 miles southeast of Miami

An emergency medical services crew approaches a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter at Coast Guard Air Station Miami to transfer the medevac patient to Jackson Memorial Hospital, Sept. 04, 2018. The patient was hoisted by the helicopter crew after Coast Guard Sector Miami watchstanders received a medevac request from the Green Ridge crew at approximately 10 a.m. for a man who fell from the cargo deck and sustained head and neck injuries while operating a forklift aboard the vessel. (Coast Guard Photo)

MIAMI — The Coast Guard medevaced a 48-year-old man from the cargo vessel, Green Ridge approximately 100 miles southeast of Miami, Tuesday.

Coast Guard Sector Miami watchstanders received the request from the Green Ridge crew at approximately 10 a.m., for a man who fell from the cargo deck and sustained head and neck injuries while operating a forklift aboard the vessel.

Watchstanders launched a Coast Guard Air Station MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew who arrived on scene, hoisted the patient and transported him to local emergency medical services who then took him to Jackson Memorial Hospital.

For more breaking news follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

-USCG-

28 años de los helicópteros medicalizados en Galicia

El domingo día 2 de septiembre se han cumplido 28 años desde la creación del servicio EMS perteneciente a la Comunidad Autónoma de Galicia.

Con dos bases fijas, operativas de orto a ocaso, en Santiago de Compostela (Conxo, Halcón III) y Ourense (Piñor, Halcón IV), las tripulaciones y el personal de mantenimiento de estos dos helicópteros han salvado tal cantidad de vidas a lo largo de su existencia que es prácticamente imposible poner una cifra aproximada, basta decir que el mismo domingo el Halcón III atendió tres emergencias, lo que es un número de salidas muy común en ambas bases.

La experiencia acumulada a través de tantos años ya no sólo por el personal médico (perteneciente al 061 Urxencias Sanitarias) sino de sus pilotos, todos ellos multi-crew con todos los cursos y habilitaciones pertinentes para una operación dual-pilot real sobre un entorno difícil -con meteorología muy cambiante- y que tiene un plus mayor de complicación en la operación, puesto que Galicia cuenta con 3.772 parroquias en el rural y pequeños núcleos de población que comparten el mismo nombre.

Para poder atender las emergencias con la máxima eficacia es necesario ya no sólo una formación constante y experiencia adquirida en horas de vuelo y en el tipo de misión, que en la actualidad se sitúa entre las 1.500 (las mínimas de las que dispone uno de sus copilotos) y las 10.000 aproximadas de uno de sus comandantes, sino del magnífico conocimiento del terreno, que aunque sí es cierto que podemos introducir unas coordenadas en el GPS  que nos indicará el punto exacto, las condiciones abruptas del terreno (con muchos valles) inciden directamente en la posibilidad de encontrarse con la enorme diferencia de realizar la navegación bajo condiciones VMC o IMC, estas últimas pueden ser evitadas solamente a través del perfecto conocimiento de la zona sobre la que se trabaja, lo que se traduce en máxima seguridad y eficacia puesto que además de una rápida respuesta previa al despegue el ferry en emergencia médica es determinante para poder llegar a tiempo, estabilizar al paciente y realizar un traslado que puede significar la diferencia entre la vida y la muerte.

El personal de mantenimiento, alguno de ellos con más de 25 años trabajando en el servicio medicalizado, realiza inspecciones postvuelo completas después de cada aterrizaje comprobando en ellas el estado de la máquina al milímetro, ya no sólo por la seguridad de sus compañeros sino para tener así la posibilidad de localizar hasta la mínima fuga que se pueda producir, lo que puede marcar la diferencia entre subsanarla en el momento y que el helicóptero continúe estando en servicio o bien tenga que quedar parado en tierra hasta la recepción e instalación del repuesto pertinente.

El servicio comenzó en 1990 dependiendo de Protección Civil (112), para después pasar al 061.

En él han prestado servicio diferentes helicópteros desde sus inicios: SA316 Alouette III, AS365 N Dauphin 2, MBB BK117, AS365 N1 Dauphin 2, AS365 C2 Dauphin 2 (patines) y desde hace quince años H135 (EC135 T2), lo que ya significó una enorme mejora de cara a la seguridad al contar con la instrumentación digital CPDS (VEMD y CAD) que, explicado de forma muy sencilla, proporciona toda la información relativa a los parámetros de motores así como del estado del helicóptero, capaz de mostrar más de 130 avisos de averías y/o fallos en el Caution Advisory Display (CAD). Y sistema MEGHAS, el cual está dividido en dos pantallas para cada piloto lo que permite una mayor facilidad de lectura al tener frente a la vista todos los parámetros de navegación, bastante menos engorroso que tener que realizar el arco visual de los instrumentos analógicos, descargando de trabajo y estrés a sus pilotos para que asi puedan disponer de una concentración mayor en un entorno laboral onshore que no permite ni el mínimo margen de error.

Hiratagakuen strengthens Japan’s aeromedical operations with Airbus fleet

Kansai-based helicopter operator Hiaratagakuen welcomed its second H145//BK117D

Tokyo, Kansai-based helicopter operator Hiaratagakuen welcomed its second H145//BK117D-2 today, following the milestone delivery of its first unit in December 2017. Currently operating 14 H135 and one H145//BK117D-2, this new H145//BK117D-2 will join Hiratagakuen’s growing fleet to support emergency medical service (EMS) missions, and serves as a passenger and material transport. The first H145//BK117D-2 has already entered service in June 2018 for aeromedical operations at the Nagasaki Medical Centre in Nagasaki Prefecture.

With Japan’s full-scale deployment of air ambulances in 2001, EMS helicopters, otherwise known as ‘Doctor Helicopters’, have taken on more prominent roles in the country, enabling rapid evacuation of casualties from affected sites, and providing critical care without delay aboard medically equipped helicopters, while in transit to the medical facility. In 2010, the Kansai government implemented region-wide EMS support network and Hiratagakuen became its main operator of these life-saving missions. Today, there are over 50 helicopters supporting emergency medical missions in 42 prefectures across Japan.

Mitsuhiro Hirata, Vice President, Aviation Operation Division of Hiratagakuen said at the delivery ceremony: “Operating in a time-sensitive EMS environment where every second matters, it is important for us to be equipped with the right helicopters for these demanding aeromedical missions. We have been well supported by a strong Airbus fleet for nearly two decades, especially with the recent introduction of the H145//BK117D-2 helicopters into our operations. We are confident that the timely addition of the second H145 helicopter will augment our aeromedical operations, as we continue to perform life-saving missions safely in the country.”

Olivier Tillier, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters Japan commented: “Airbus is happy to play a supportive role in Japan’s EMS ecosystem, especially with the first EMS-configured H145//BK117D-2 entering service into Hiratagakuen’s fleet early summer this year, joining soon by its second unit for aeromedical operations. Given its flexibility, agility and high operational efficiency, we know that our H145//BK117D-2 will continue to lend capable support to Hiratagakuen’s every EMS mission.”

The H145//BK117D-2 is developed in co-operation with Kawasaki Heavy Industries to deliver excellent performance throughout the flight envelope. It comes with the state-of-the-art Helionix avionics suite and designed-in mission capability and flexibility, especially in high and hot operating conditions. With a large cabin, a compact airframe and powerful engines, the H145//BK117D-2 is the aircraft of choice for a variety of missions including EMS, air rescue, law enforcement and aerial work. More than 1,400 H145//BK117D-2 helicopters have been delivered worldwide, achieving close to 5 million flight hours.

Northrop Grumman Integrates RapidSOS NG911 Clearinghouse Technology into Computer-Aided Dispatch Product Suite

Gives dispatchers and first responders a more accurate location of distressed callers

MCLEAN, Va. – August 2, 2018 – Committed to improving emergency response times, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has partnered with RapidSOS to integrate its Next-Generation 911 (NG911) Clearinghouse technology into its Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) products.

By leveraging the rich data and location information inherent in smartphones and other modern devices, first responders can get to distressed 911 callers quicker, potentially saving many more lives.

This technology gives first responders a more accurate location of distressed callers using smartphones and other internet-enabled devices, thereby improving public safety response times and potentially saving more lives.

RapidSOS is an emergency technology company dedicated to improving outcomes of emergency situations by leveraging the “internet of things (IOT).” Its NG911 Clearinghouse technology allows emergency call centers, known as public-safety answering points (PSAPs), access to advanced location information and other data from smart devices such as phones, wearables, connected cars and homes, as well as popular apps for navigation and transportation services.

“We believe that providing public safety dispatchers and first responders with better, richer data from personal devices will help save more lives,” said Nathan Daniels, program manager, first responder solutions, Northrop Grumman. “The integration of the NG911 Clearinghouse with our emergency response portfolio will greatly benefit our customers and prevent unnecessary difficulties locating callers.”

Over the past two decades, the number of people using smartphones and other internet-enabled devices has grown exponentially. Most of these devices contain sophisticated geolocation technology, which, if accessible to emergency services, can greatly reduce the time it takes to respond to a user in distress.

“RapidSOS is dedicated to providing public safety agencies with life-saving information integrated into their existing workflows and dashboards,” said Jeff Robertson, general manager of public safety, RapidSOS. “This partnership with Northrop Grumman will put advanced emergency information in the hands of 9-1-1 telecommunicators and first responders, enabling more efficient and better prepared emergency response.”

As an industry leader in public safety systems, Northrop Grumman is committed to providing the most advanced emergency management command, control and communications solutions to the First Responder Community. Some of the largest police, fire, ambulance and security services in the U.S. and around the world trust and depend on Northrop Grumman’s CommandPoint® CAD and other first responder products, which is why the company is dedicated to its continual improvement.

Partnering with IOT companies and the public safety community, RapidSOS provides a rich data link to public safety via the NG911 Clearinghouse – sending lifesaving data to aid in emergency response. NG911 Clearinghouse is a free service to public safety, and is integrated with all major vendors of 9-1-1 call-taking, dispatching and mapping software.  Learn more about RapidSOS: rapidsos.com.

Emergency? Help Ornge find you!

Ornge Emergency Contact Sheet

Ornge encourages those who live in (or visit) remote/cottage communities to download an Emergency Contact Sheet. This will help first responders access/locate you in an emergency situation

Hundreds of times each year, Ornge responds and transports patients from a variety of locations across Ontario including remote communities, cottage communities and urban centres. In remote and cottage communities, it is essential for homeowners, campers and cottage owners to know their location and other relevant health information when calling for help in an emergency situation.

These destinations can be difficult for first responders to access or locate in an emergency situation. As a result, Ornge encourages those who live in or visit remote or cottage communities to complete an Emergency Contact Sheet and post in a highly visible and accessible location. This placard will help anyone calling for help easily and efficiently relay important information such as:

• - Location (GPS coordinates, address and lane number)
• - Medical Information (medical conditions or animals on premises)
• - Emergency Contacts (neighbours/relatives, Park Ranger or local emergency number)

Post your contact sheet today. Help us help you!

Coast Guard aircrew medevacs injured woman on Sucia Island, Washington

MH-65 Dolphin, ©USCG (archive)

SEATTLE — A Coast Guard aircrew medically evacuated a 69-year-old woman from Sucia Island, Washington, Wednesday afternoon, after she reportedly dislocated her hip while hiking.

An aircrew aboard an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles, transported the woman from Sucia Island in the San Juan Islands National Monument to emergency medical services at Bellingham Airport.

Watchstanders in the Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound command center received a call at 11:30 a.m., from a fellow hiker reporting that a 69-year-old woman had been injured while hiking on Sucia Island.

The Dolphin aircrew was diverted from a training exercise and was instructed to retrieve a stokes litter from the air station to use during the medevac and arrived on scene at 12:48 p.m.

An aviation survival technician was lowered down to the injured woman to help assess the injury and prepare the woman to be hoisted. The aircrew safely transferred the patient to EMS at 2:27 p.m.

A Sucia Island State Park Ranger and fellow hikers assisted in the medevac efforts even transporting the injured woman off the trail to an open field. One of the hikers had a marine-band radio and was able to directly coordinate with the aircrew when they arrived on scene.

-USCG-

Leonardo: AW169 helicopter grows stronger in UK EMS market with selection by Magpas Air Ambulance

- Specialist  Aviation  Services (SAS)  will  customise  and operate  an  AW169  on  behalf  of Magpas  Air  Ambulance  starting  from  spring  2019      

- This  will  be  the  ninth  UK-based  AW169  for  air  ambulance  operations  confirming  it  as the  market  leader  since  its  introduction 

- Over  180  AW169s are on order  with    nearly  60  in service  worldwide 

Farnborough,  18th  July  2018  -  Leonardo  is  pleased  to  announce  that  Magpas  Air  Ambulance  has selected  the  AW169  as  its  new  generation  helicopter.  Specialist  Aviation  Services  (SAS)  will customise  the  aircraft  with  an  advanced  medical  interior  and  will  operate  the  helicopter  on  behalf  of Magpas  Air  Ambulance,  providing  pilots  and  maintenance  services.  The  announcement  was  made during  the  Farnborough International  Airshow.   

Magpas  Air  Ambulance,  a  leading  HEMS  provider  and  the  oldest  emergency  medical  charity  of  its kind  in  the  UK,  operates  24/7  throughout  the  year  and  is  fundraising  to  put  its  AW169  into  service  in the  spring  of  2019.  Magpas  Air  Ambulance  selected  the  AW169  for  its  class  leading  characteristics and  an  unrivalled  medical  interior  enabling  360º  patient  access,  which  will  deliver  increased  mission effectiveness  in  its  daily  life-saving  duties. 

Daryl  Brown,  CEO,  Magpas  Air  Ambulance  said  “We  are  delighted  to  be  working  with  Leonardo  and Specialist  Aviation  Services  (SAS)  towards  the  delivery  of  a  new  AW169,  to  replace  our  current aircraft  in  the  spring  of  2019.   

The  current  Magpas  Air  Ambulance  MD  902  Explorer  entered  service  17  years  ago  and  has  been with  Magpas  Air  Ambulance  since  June  2012.    Whilst  the  current  model  has  flown  to  thousands  of patients  over  the  last  six  years  and  has  helped  the  charity  respond  to  its  highest  number  of activations  ever,  in  2017;  it  is  now  coming  to  the  end  of  its  operational  life.   

Following  intensive  research,  Magpas  selected  a  (AW169)  helicopter,  with  the  most  advanced aviation  technology,  to  become  the  new  Magpas  Air  Ambulance.  We  recently  launched  a  two-year appeal  to  raise  £1.5  million  and  bring  this  new  state  of  the  art  AW169  helicopter  to  the  East  of England  and  beyond.  The  new  aircraft  will  be  able  to  fly  further,  faster  and  allow  the  lifesaving service  to  reach an  even  greater  number  of  patients.” 

Henk  Schaeken,  Managing  Director,  Specialist  Aviation  Services  (SAS)  said  “Magpas  Air Ambulance  is  a  key  provider  of  emergency  medical  response  in  the  East  of  England  and  we  are delighted  to  maintain  our  close  working  relationship  with  them  as  they  launch  the  extra  live-saving capability  which  the  AW169  is  proving  it  can  deliver.” 

SAS  has  placed  orders  for  12  AW169s  and  is  also  an  Authorized  Service  Centre  for  the  AW169  in the  UK,  providing  a  range  of  support  and  maintenance  services  to  AW169  customers.  SAS  has  also recently  been  appointed  as  an  Authorised  Service  Centre  for  the  AW139  to  support  the  growing number  of  customers  in  the  UK  that  are  operating  the  type.  Expanding  the  level  of  customer  service worldwide  is  part  of  Leonardo’s  commitment  indicated  in  the  Industrial  Plan  launched  earlier  this year.   

Eight  AW169  helicopters  are  already  in  service  or  are  soon  to  enter  service  with  UK  air  ambulance charities  comprising  Kent  Surrey  &  Sussex  Air  Ambulance  (2  aircraft),  Children’s  Air  Ambulance  (2 aircraft),  Dorset  and  Somerset  Air  Ambulance,  Lincs  &  Notts  Air  Ambulance,  Cornwall  Air Ambulance  and  Essex  &  Herts  Air  Ambulance. 

The  first  four  AW169  air  ambulances  to  enter  service  in  the  UK  in  their  first  year  of  service  have performed  nearly  3,000 lifesaving  missions  and have  flown  more  than 2,200  hours. 

A  versatile,  new  generation  twin  engine  light  intermediate  category  helicopter,  the  4.8  tonne  AW169 has  been  designed  in  response  to  the  growing  market  demand  for  an  aircraft  that  delivers  high performance,  meets  all  the  latest  safety  standards  and  has  multi-role  capabilities.  The  AW169 incorporates  several  new  technology  features  in  the  rotor  system,  engines,  avionics,  transmission and  electric  power  generation  and  distribution  systems.  It  is  the  first  all  new  helicopter  in  its  weight class  in  more  than  30  years  and  has  become  the  best-selling  helicopter  in  it  class  for  a  wide  range  of applications  including  air  ambulance,  corporate/VIP  transport,  offshore  transport  and  law enforcement.  Over  180 AW169s  are  on  order  with  nearly  60  in  service  worldwide.   

Magpas  Air  Ambulance  is  a  charity  which  brings  essential  lifesaving  care  by  land  and  by  air  to patients  in  life-threatening  emergencies  in  the  East  of  England  and  beyond.  The  oldest  emergency medical  charity  of  its  kind  in  the  UK,  Magpas  Air  Ambulance  has  treated  over  60,000 patients  since  it was  formed  in  1971. 

Magpas  Air  Ambulance  operates  its  helicopter  and  rapid  response  vehicles  from  a  base  near Huntingdon  in  Cambridgeshire  and  is  dispatched  to  medical  incidents  across  12  counties.  In  2017, the  charity’s  enhanced  medical  team  were  called  to  over  1,600  life-threatening  emergencies.  To  find out  more  about  the  charity  please  visit  www.magpas.org.uk.   

The  Specialist  Aviation  Services  Group  is  a  UK-based  aircraft  operator  and  support  company providing  leading  edge  solutions  internationally  to  Public  Service  and  VIP  customers  who  depend  on aircraft  to  support  their  operations.  It  provides  bespoke  and  professionally  managed  aviation services  -  making  it  the  partner  of  choice  for  many  police,  air  ambulance,  offshore  and  VIP  clients. To  find  out  more  please  visit  www.specialist-aviation.com. 

Ornge donates decommissioned helicopter to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum

(Ottawa, Ontario) – In a very special event in Ottawa this week, Ornge donated a decommissioned Sikorsky S-76 to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum.  Members of the public and media were invited to attend the donation ceremony as Ornge officially handed over one of the S-76 models which served the Ontario air ambulance program from 1980 to 2016.

“We would like to express our gratitude to Ornge for their generous donation of the Sikorsky S-76, an aircraft with a rich history that provides a significant contribution to Canada’s aviation heritage,” said Christopher Kitzan, Director General, Canada Aviation and Space Museum. “We look forward to including the Sikorsky S-76 in our national program, to enrich the learning experience for all visitors.”
 
Through a national network of more than two dozen academic, industry, government, and national museum partners, the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum engages hundreds of young Canadians in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) disciplines and inspires new generations to pursue opportunities within the mobility field.

The helicopter will be refurbished into a public display by Ottawa-area primary, secondary and post-secondary students, directly supporting the museum’s ongoing efforts to enhance the learning experience for its visitors.

“We know the donation of this aircraft will give countless youth the opportunity to engage with a helicopter that has a long and distinguished history. We hope that some of these young people will someday aspire to work in the field of aviation, possibly even for Ornge, and in turn support our very important mission of serving the people of Ontario.”  Said Rob Giguere, Ornge Chief Operating Officer and Deputy CEO

This particular aircraft, registered as C-GIMB, flew more than 14,000 hours and logged 47,554 landings while in service at Ornge. The retired fleet has since been replaced by the Leonardo AW139 helicopters.

Coast Guard recognizes spouse for heroic actions

Photos by Petty Officer 3rd Class Ryan Dickinson, US Coast Guard District 7 PADET Jacksonville

Rear Adm. Peter Brown, Commander of Coast Guard District Seven, recognized Mrs. Deleah Pickler, a registered nurse at Trident Medical Center, Thursday, June 21, 2018, at Coast Guard Sector Charleston for her heroic actions. On June 2, Pickler located and provided life-saving aid to a missing child in her neighborhood until emergency medical service personnel arrived. 

CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Coast Guard recognized Deleah Pickler Thursday at Coast Guard Sector Charleston for her heroic actions when she located and provided life-saving aid to a missing child.

On June 2, 2018, Pickler helped search for a missing 3-year-old child in her neighborhood on Joint Base Charleston. After searching for the child for 15 minutes, Pickler located the missing child inside of a vehicle. The child managed to climb into the unlocked vehicle during a game of hide-and-seek. Pickler, a registered nurse, called 911 and rendered aid to the child, who was showing severe signs of heat exhaustion, until EMS personnel arrived.

Rear Adm. Peter Brown, Commander of Coast Guard District Seven based in Miami, Florida, recognized Pickler for her swift response and heroic actions.

"Her response that day is a testament to her vigilance and her willingness to engage when a situation required her help," said Brown. "She had the specialized skills needed to ensure the child was medically OK. It was her will to get involved that made the difference and saved the child's life and that's a testament, not just to her, but also to the whole Coast Guard family."

Pickler is an operating room nurse at Trident Medical Center in North Charleston, South Carolina, and encourages parents to lock their vehicles and develop a neighborhood outreach program such as a neighborhood social media page.

"I was in the right place at the right time," said Pickler. "I'm happy I had the skill set and knew how to respond."

Pickler is the spouse of Senior Chief Justin Pickler, Officer in Charge of Coast Guard Station Georgetown.

-USCG-