As a result of poor weather conditions, Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod aircrews were called upon three times in the span of five days to transport patients from Martha’s Vineyard Hospital to mainland hospitals for more advanced medical care.
In separate missions, Coast Guard aircrews medevaced two people early Tuesday morning.
Staff at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital contacted First Coast Guard District watchstanders because icing and poor weather conditions had civilian medical air transport grounded, and they had two patients who required immediate transfer, according to a Coast Guard press release.
An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew medevaced a 17-year-old female with a head injury and transported her to Tufts Medical Center. Also Tuesday, an HC-144 Ocean Sentry crew medevaced a 39-year-old male suffering from a heart condition and transported him to Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis.
“People who need us are not always out on the water,” said Lt. j.g. Nick Peters, one of the MH-60 pilots. “This was our third medevac in two days from Martha’s Vineyard because of less than ideal weather conditions. Our job, just like the people who work in the hospital, is to save lives.”
Both patients arrived at the respective hospitals in stable condition, the Coast Guard reported.
On Friday morning, a Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod crew medevaced a 24-year-old man suffering from possible internal bleeding from Martha’s Vineyard Hospital to Boston.
Civilian transport was unavailable due to weather and low visibility, and Martha’s Vineyard Hospital was not equipped to best treat the patient as his condition deteriorated, according to a press release.
At approximately 2:20 am, a HC-144 Ocean Sentry crew from Air Station Cape Cod launched bound for Martha’s Vineyard airport.
After arriving at approximately 3:30 am, the patient and two medical professionals from Martha’s Vineyard Hospital boarded the aircraft and took off for Logan Airport.
At 4:40 am the patient was transferred to awaiting Emergency Medical Services personnel at Logan Airport. EMS then transported the patient to Massachusetts General Hospital.
“A lot of people worked hard to get the patient the care he needed,” said Lt. Bryce Van Cleef, the command duty officer at the First District command center. “Coordinating with multiple EMS services, hospitals, and airports can be tough, but in this instance everything went smoothly.”