Two Bear Air Rescue

On Wednesday, August 19th, we were dispatched to Glacier National Park for the second night in a row for a night hoist rescue. The victim had become very ill and dehydrated on the Loop Trail. We arrived at the coordinates and inserted our rescue specialist. The victim was assessed and hoisted into our aircraft for transport off the mountain to receive further care. We wish the victim a speedy recovery.

On Tuesday, August 18th, we were dispatched to Glacier National Park for the hoist rescue of a victim who had suffered a knee injury on the Grinnell Glacier trail. We arrived at the coordinates and inserted our rescue specialist. The victim, who was in the care of a Park Ranger, was assessed and hoisted into our aircraft for further treatment and transport off the mountain. We wish the victim a full and speedy recovery.

On Thursday, August 13th, we were dispatched to Glacier National Park for the rescue of a man who had suffered a significant fall from an overlook into McDonald Creek. The victim had reportedly gone over a set of waterfalls. A bystander observed him face down in the water and after making his way to him turned him over, pulled him to a shallow section and started CPR. After a short course of CPR the victim had a return of spontaneous circulation. We located the victim in the middle of the creek in the care of GNP Rangers. We inserted our rescue specialist and after initial stabilization, the victim was hoisted into our helicopter and flown to the waiting ALERT helicopter for further stabilization and transport to the hospital. This is our second river call in the last few days with return of spontaneous circulation after citizen CPR. We commend the quick action of the bystander whose actions saved the victims life. We wish the victim a full and speedy recovery.

On Monday, August 10th, we were dispatched to the Middle Fork of the Flathead River, west of Essex, for the rescue of a near drowning victim. The victim had come out of the raft and was initially submerged. His raft mates were able to locate him and get him to shore. He was not breathing and had no pulse so they started CPR. They were also able to summon help with a satellite communication device. After about 10 minutes of CPR the victim had a return of spontaneous circulation. We located the group at the coordinates provided and inserted our rescue specialist. After initial stabilization, the victim was hoisted into our helicopter and flown to definitive care. This case illustrates how having training and being prepared on the water can make the difference between life and death. Early citizen CPR really can make a difference!

On Monday, August 3rd, we were dispatched to the Middle Fork of the Flathead River for the hoist rescue of a rafter. The victim had come out of her raft and had gotten her foot caught under a boulder. With the assistance of her friends, she was able to keep her head above water. She spent an extended length of time in the water before she could be freed. We located the group at the coordinates provided and inserted our rescue specialist. After assessment and initial treatment for hypothermia, the victim was hoisted into our helicopter and flown to the airport and a waiting Evergreen Ambulance for transport to the hospital.

On Thursday, July 30th, we were dispatched to Lemhi County, Idaho for the hoist rescue of a backpacker with an altered level of consciousness. We located the subject at the coordinates provided and inserted our rescue specialist. After assessment and initial treatment, the victim was hoisted into our helicopter and flown to Salmon where he was turned over to Air St Lukes. We wish him a speedy recovery.

On Wednesday, July 29th, we were dispatched to Sanders County, Montana for the hoist rescue of a worker who had a chainsaw injury to his leg. We inserted our rescue specialist who found the patient in the excellent care of Plains Ambulance personnel, who had hiked to the patient. The victim was hoisted into our helicopter and flown to definitive care. We wish him a speedy recovery.

On Friday, July 18th just before midnight, we were dispatched to the Salmon River in Idaho for the hoist rescue of a rafter. The victim was in a large group of rafters on a multi-day trip on the river. They were camped for the night, and he was in his tent when a large tree fell onto the tent significantly injuring him. We inserted our rescue specialist who was able to assess and provide initial stabilizing treatment. The victim was hoisted into our helicopter and flown to the Elk City Airport where he was turned over to our friends from Life Flight Network for continuing treatment and transport. We wish him a speedy recovery.

On Saturday, July 18th we were dispatched to the Helen Creek area in the Bob Marshall Wilderness for the hoist rescue of a backpacker. He had suffered a lower leg injury and was able to summon help with a satellite communication device. He was hoisted into our helicopter and flown out of the wilderness to obtain definitive medical care. We wish him a speedy recovery.

On Thursday, July 16th we were dispatched to the Gordon Creek area in the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana for the hoist rescue of a trail crew worker. He had suffered a lower leg axe injury. We were able to locate the work group and lower our rescue specialist to assess and provide treatment. His co-workers had provided excellent initial care. He was hoisted into our helicopter and flown to the Condon Airport and our waiting friends from the ALERT helicopter for transport to the hospital.