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Two in four days: 36th Rescue Flight continues saving lives

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Airmen from the 36th Rescue Flight rescued two people during a four-day span this month bringing their total saves to 681.

The rescue Sept. 13 involved a 44-year-old woman who slid 100 feet down a rocky slope off the side of a narrow road about 35 miles southeast of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, while riding her all-terrain vehicle in the mountains. The woman had a shattered left arm and injuries to her collarbone and face. The crew took less than 32 minutes to arrive on scene.

The ATV rider was flown to Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d'Alene for treatment.

Capt. Lauren Robillard, mission co-pilot, said, "We're just glad we were able to provide the assistance. She was in pretty bad shape when we found her, but it wouldn't have been as fluid if it weren't for the other ATV riders on the ground providing our operations desk coordinates and letting them know when they could hear and see us."

Robillard said the rescue was a success and provided her team a huge confidence boost.

The second rescue Sept. 16 was of a Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape student nearly 70 miles north of Fairchild AFB. It took the rescuers less than 25 minutes to arrive on scene more than 60 miles north of Fairchild AFB. The student was from the 66th Training Squadron, who, during training, was found in and out of consciousness and unresponsive to the SERE instructors.

"Her instructors had brought her down to our landing zone so we could get her to the hospital as quickly as possible," said Capt. Clyde Vickery, 36th RQF mission co-pilot.

The SERE student was flown to Providence Mount Carmel Hospital in Colville, Wash., for treatment.

"It's very rewarding to know I played a small part in saving her life," Vickery said. "We hope we're never needed, but are always ready to help when asked. I feel a tremendous amount of responsibility toward guarding and saving the lives of the people of our community."