U.S. Coast Guard mock rescue operation

dhobi_bhai · Jul 7th, 2009, 12:15 am

Does anyone have an info on how the Coast Guard rescue operations take place? Has anyone seen one or heard about it from someone?

I had a chance to see it up close. Thankfully, it was a mock rescue operation.

As it happened live, two people were drinking and fell in the river. I assume from their boat, which I did not see at that time. As they were in the water, Coast Guard's helicopter flew for assistance. As the helicopter was 15 feet in the air, the diver dived in the water, got a hold of one guy, raised his hand from the water to let the pilots know he is ready to send the guy up. First a piece of hard surface was lowered onto them. One guy sat on that as he was ushered up. Soon, a piece of rope was lowered from the helicopter, onto the second one who was in the water. Both the rescue diver/swimmer and the person who was in the water, got back up into the helicopter.

Pictures for the viewing:

Going for the rescue

In these two pictures, the helicopter is 15 feet from the surface. The diver is getting ready to dive, with his flippers.

Police boat as a back up

Diver midair, going in the water

Next four pictures are of two of them being pulled

dhobi_bhai · Jul 7th, 2009, 12:17 am

Helicopter's landing pad

People have surrounded the scene

Went up-close

The inside

The "back" of the helicopter

Oh, look at that joystick.

Computer for technology

Up and close pictures of inside the helicopter shots.

I talked to the diver for about 10 minutes after they landed and got several pieces of info. There is an EMT present inside the helicopter, so if the person is not breathing, an EMT can work on the person until the helicopter lands at Traverse City, Michigan. That is where the official launching/landing pads are. I was told that they also practice landing in unofficial landing areas, such as grassy areas, so if there is an emergency, they can land if needed be.

The diver, who is also an EMT, wears a swimsuit. Almost all Coast Guard rescue operations personnel who are inside that helicopter are either EMT's or Paramedics. I asked when was the last 'real' rescue operation they had gone to, and the diver said it happened in Fargo, North Dakota, where 11 people had to be rescued. I asked them if they also operate internationally, such as Air France Flight 447 which crashed. He said most likely not, as the international countries have their own forces, but in some countries, U.S. troops do operate as a part of rescue operation. I asked him about the plane that landed in Hudson river, and he said that Coast Guard was fully involved in the scene at that time. In the vest that they wear, the diver/swimmer carries several things; knives, flares, a tracking device so if he is lost somewhere, he can send a signal and they can track him down.

I was told that if you were to purposely dial 911 and tell them you have an emergency and if there were to involve a rescue operation, they would charge you for about $7000-$8000 because that's the cost of flying one of these babies. I was very surprised at that.

I asked them if they do the mock operations regularly and they said in summer, they do it almost everyday, in different locations.

If anyone finds this interesting or has more information relating to Coast Guard, let us know also.

Blonde Baji · Jul 7th, 2009, 12:23 am

aha !!!

toh humaara inetrnational dhobi ghat is not in UK !!!
Its in US !!!

lucky you !!!

I never saw any rescue thing in operation !!!

ye we used to have fire drills at school !!!

Blonde Baji · Jul 7th, 2009, 12:26 am

you actually went over & asked so many qs?

& why would they charge us so much?

sara · Jul 7th, 2009, 06:13 am

Hmmm,interesting !
DB when did you see it ?

Blonde Baji · Jul 7th, 2009, 06:46 am

Recent Pics hain !!!

Amabel · Jul 7th, 2009, 07:41 am

Thanks for posting. Good piece of information.

I'm surprised at the cost. Helicopters aren't this expensive. Is it because of medical equipment or the double-trained staff? The pilots are paramedics as well.

I think I remember the North Dekota rescue operation a few months ago (not sure though). Wasn't it the one where they had to rescue people who were boating or somehting and then got stuck in the storm. or was it Ohio?

dhobi_bhai · Jul 7th, 2009, 08:04 am

This incident took place at Lake Michigan in US this past Sunday, mid-afternoon. After watching the drill, so many questions came to mind and who better to ask than the guys themselves.

Amabel, yes, I am assuming that having a pilot and an EMT on board is not going to be cheap, and gas is always going up. The cost also (may) cover the salaries of the Coast Guard personnel, because they have to get paid for the work they do; fly to the scene, perform a rescue operation and head back.

I have no recollection where the operation from a few months ago took place. The length of flight between this incident and Traverse City, MI is around an hour. I asked the diver what happens if the person has difficulties breathing, he said they continue to work on the person in the back until they reach to their base.

Do U.S. Coast Guards have links to hospitals? I assume yes...? If yes, which ones, because I want to know what hospitals are linked to the Coast Guard.

Amabel · Jul 7th, 2009, 08:14 am

As for the links to the hospitals, am sure they go to the nearest hospital. And then later on they may move the patients to the appropriate ones. This is the case with any any kind of accident/emergency in US.

Regarding the rescue operation a few months ago, it was either in N.Dekota or Ohio. and I remember they kept mentioning the cost as it was quite expensive. The money of course came out of tax payers dollars even though it was victoms' fault. Everyone knew there was going to be a bad storm or something